David Ginola, the charismatic Frenchman who once dazzled the Premier League with his incredible flair and flowing hair, remains a figure of intense fascination. As he celebrates his 59th birthday this Sunday, January 25, the conversation around him has shifted from his legendary footwork on the pitch to his equally headline-grabbing personal life.
Known as a cult hero during his time at Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, Ginola’s life off the field has played out like a high-stakes drama, complete with high-profile marriages, scandalous affairs, and a near-death experience that led him to the love of his life.
The story of Ginola’s personal life begins with his marriage to fashion model Coraline Delphin in 1991. For years, they were seen as a glamorous power couple of the football world. However, the reality behind closed doors was far more turbulent.
Their relationship was eventually rocked by what the media dubbed the “lovechild saga.” In 2000, allegations surfaced that Ginola had fathered a daughter named Joy following an affair with a Parisian businesswoman, Joelle Pinquier, back in 1991.
The scandal became a legal nightmare for the footballer, who reportedly refused to take a DNA test and faced significant legal pressure over child maintenance payments. Joelle claimed they met through mutual friends while he was playing for Paris Saint-Germain, only for her to discover he was married and expecting a child with his wife at the same time she was pregnant.
This period of infidelity and legal battles eventually took its toll, leading to a high-profile divorce from Coraline in 2016. While the split was described by some as a “Eurostar divorce,” reflecting the cross-border nature of their lives, it paved the way for a remarkable new chapter in Ginola’s life.
Shortly after the separation, he was seen with Maëva Denat, a stunning French model 22 years his junior. Maëva, who has frequently been compared to Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie due to her striking features, became the center of Ginola’s world under the most extraordinary circumstances.
The couple’s origin story is nothing short of miraculous. Maëva reveals that she met Ginola on the very day he technically “died.” In 2016, during a charity football match in the south of France, Ginola suffered a massive cardiac arrest.
He was clinically dead for nine minutes, kept alive only by the quick thinking of fellow players and the eventual use of a defibrillator. Surgeons later performed a grueling quadruple bypass operation to save his life. Maëva recalls being introduced to him at a restaurant in Cannes just after midnight.
They shared a conversation and a single kiss before he headed off to the charity event where his heart would stop. In the terrifying aftermath of his collapse, she found herself frantically trying to get news of his condition, despite barely knowing his inner circle at the time.
Their relationship blossomed rapidly after his recovery, and they welcomed a daughter together in 2018. However, not everyone in the Ginola family was thrilled with the new arrangement. David’s son, Andrea, was famously vocal about his disapproval of the relationship.
He publicly questioned Maëva’s intentions and her career, suggesting that his father deserved a partner with more established goals. Despite the family friction, the couple has remained seemingly inseparable, often appearing together at major sporting events and high-fashion galas across Europe.
Ginola’s zest for life after his brush with death has become a recurring theme in his public appearances. When he participated in the popular reality show “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” in 2021, he became a fan favorite for his charm and openness.
Upon leaving the camp, he made headlines yet again by candidly discussing what he missed most during his time in the jungle. With his characteristic Gallic honesty, he admitted that he missed the intimacy he shares with Maëva, boldly claiming that they make love every single day.
Today, David Ginola seems to be living a life defined by the mantra of making the most of every second. Whether he is working as a football pundit or spending time with his young daughter and Maëva, he carries the air of a man who knows exactly how lucky he is to be here.
His journey from a “lovechild saga” and a messy divorce to a miraculous recovery and a passionate new romance continues to captivate the public. It is a story that proves that for some Premier League icons, life after the final whistle can be just as unpredictable and high-energy as a championship-winning match.
Would you like me to look into the specific details of David Ginola’s quadruple bypass surgery or perhaps more information on his legendary career at Newcastle United?
