Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen shared a rare public tribute to her partner, jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, in celebration of his birthday on Saturday, November 7. Posting a smiling photo of the pair to her Instagram Stories, Bündchen praised Valente in a Portuguese message expressing her gratitude for their life together in Miami, Florida.

"Today a great man was born, @joaquimvalente," Bündchen wrote over the snapshot, according to a translation provided by E! Online. "How lucky I am. I love you so much!"

In the photograph, Bündchen wore a mustard-yellow halter top while Valente wore a green button-up shirt as the two smiled with their arms around each other, according to InStyle.

The social media post marks a rare personal disclosure for the notoriously private couple, who have largely kept their day-to-day relationship out of the public eye since they first began spending time together in late 2022.

A Rare Public Glimpse Into a Private Partnership

While Bündchen and Valente generally avoid the spotlight, the November 7 birthday message follows a series of selective public milestones over the past several months. Just over a week prior to the birthday post, on October 29, Valente accompanied Bündchen to the Lotus House annual gala in Miami, where the supermodel was honored alongside model Karlie Kloss. At the charity event, Bündchen shared a group photograph featuring Valente dressed in blue jeans, a gray button-down shirt, and a brown vest.

Earlier in the year, Bündchen also recognized Valente on Father's Day. In a June 21 Instagram carousel, the author and model praised Valente's character and influence on her family.

"Thank you for leading by example, and for the values you embody, love, humility, integrity, discipline, kindness and consistency," Bündchen wrote in the June tribute. "You are an incredible role model. We are all so grateful for you, and we love you so much."

Although their public appearances remain infrequent, international media outlets have differed on certain biographical details surrounding the couple. In coverage of the November 7 tribute, US outlets including People and E! Online reported that Valente was celebrating his 39th birthday. Conversely, Brazilian publications offered different figures: Vogue Brasil and Diário do Nordeste reported that Valente turned 37, while CNN Brasil listed his age as 36.

Reporting also varies regarding the couple's formal marital status. People, E! Online, Yahoo Entertainment, and Vogue Brasil identify Valente as Bündchen's husband, noting that the two married in an intimate ceremony in December 2025.

Meanwhile, CNN Brasil continued to refer to Valente as Bündchen's boyfriend in its coverage of the birthday post.

From Martial Arts Training to Marriage

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Valente relocated to Florida in 2007. Alongside his brothers Pedro and Gui, he runs the Valente Brothers jiu-jitsu academy in Miami, where the siblings have taught martial arts and self-defense for decades.

Bündchen and Valente first crossed paths professionally when she began taking jiu-jitsu lessons at the Miami studio with her children. In 2021, the pair collaborated on a photo shoot for Dust magazine. Speaking in an interview at the time, Valente noted how naturally the model connected with the martial art's core tenets.

"I think what happened with Gisele is that she was already aligned with our philosophy," Valente said during the 2021 feature, referencing the academy's 753 code of principles.

"She always looked to live her life in a way that was looking to improve herself as a person, and once she understood the philosophy of the 753 code, I think it clicked with a mission and a path that she was already on."

In February 2022, Bündchen shared a video on Instagram showing herself practicing self-defense maneuvers with Valente in traditional training gear. "I feel stronger, more confidence and empowered since I started practicing self-defense," she wrote at the time, thanking the Valente Brothers for their instruction.

Following the finalization of her divorce from former NFL quarterback Tom Brady in late 2022, Bündchen and Valente began spending more time together outside the gym. According to CNN Brasil, their romantic relationship was officially confirmed in 2024, with Bündchen previously refuting speculation that the romance had overlapped with her prior marriage.

Blending Families and Life in Miami

Over the past two years, Bündchen and Valente have focused on blending their lives and raising their growing family in South Florida. In October 2024, news broke that the couple was expecting their first child together.

According to CNN Brasil and Vogue Brasil, Bündchen gave birth to a baby boy named River in February 2025.

Following the arrival of their son, Bündchen reflected on the experience of welcoming a newborn again, stating in a prior update that she was "grateful for these sacred moments that changed me in ways words can't fully hold." Ten months after River's birth, in December 2025, the couple quietly wed.

River is Bündchen's third child. She also shares two older children—son Benjamin Rein and daughter Vivian Lake—with Brady. While E! Online, Yahoo Entertainment, and CNN Brasil note that Benjamin is 16 and Vivian is 13, Vogue Brasil lists their ages as 15 and 12. Both older children have trained at the Valente Brothers studio and frequently appear in Bündchen's social media updates centered on outdoor activities, horseback riding, and yoga.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Gisele Bündchen write in her birthday post for Joaquim Valente?

On Saturday, November 7, Bündchen posted a photo of the couple on her Instagram Stories with a message written in Portuguese: "Hoje nasceu um grande homem.

Que sorte a minha. Te amo muito!" In English, the tribute translates to: "Today a great man was born. How lucky I am. I love you so much!"

Why do media outlets report different ages for Joaquim Valente?

Valente's exact birth year has not been independently verified through public records by major outlets, leading to conflicting reports across international media. US publications such as People and E! Online state that he turned 39 on November 7, 2026, whereas Brazilian outlets Vogue Brasil and CNN Brasil report that he turned 37 and 36, respectively.

When did Gisele Bündchen and Joaquim Valente get married and have a child?

According to CNN Brasil and Vogue Brasil, the couple welcomed their first child together, a son named River, in February 2025. Multiple outlets, including People and E! Online, report that Bündchen and Valente subsequently married in a private ceremony in December 2025.

Sources