Riccardo Calafiori’s girlfriend Benedetta Boeme became one of football’s most-searched names in the summer of 2024 after a live DAZN interview kiss went viral, a cheating scandal erupted on TikTok, and a raw breakup statement on Instagram confirmed the split — all within weeks of Calafiori’s 42 million pound move from Bologna to Arsenal.
The Arsenal and Italy defender, born May 19, 2002 in Rome, had been quietly dating Benedetta since mid-2023. Matching tattoos, a Champions League qualification celebration caught on camera, and a very public farewell compressed an entire relationship arc into roughly twelve months of Italian football media frenzy. By late 2024, Calafiori had moved on to a new relationship with Milan-based model Megghi Galo.
Who Is Benedetta Boeme? Calafiori’s Ex-Girlfriend
Benedetta Boeme is an Italian model who dated Riccardo Calafiori from approximately mid-2023 to July 2024, becoming one of Serie A’s most-discussed WAGs after a viral on-camera kiss during a DAZN broadcast. Her Instagram handle is @bboeme, where she had around 38,000 followers as of early 2026.
Benedetta Boeme’s Age and Background
Benedetta turned 27 in January 2024, based on a birthday post Calafiori shared on Instagram captioning “+27, my strength.” That places her birth year around 1997, making her roughly five years older than Calafiori. She works as a model and lifestyle content creator, with her Instagram focused on fashion, travel, and personal photography.
The first public evidence of their relationship appeared in June 2023, when both began sharing content featuring the other. At that point Calafiori was establishing himself as one of Bologna’s standout defenders — recognized in Italy but not yet the household name he would become after Euro 2024 and the Premier League transfer.
Matching Tattoos and Early Commitment
Benedetta and Calafiori got matching hand tattoos reading “Koi no Yokan” — a Japanese phrase roughly translating to “premonition of love.” The tattoo signaled a level of commitment that went beyond typical footballer-influencer coupling. According to Arsenal.com’s profile of the defender, Calafiori has described buying his parents a house as his proudest achievement, suggesting a player whose off-pitch decisions carry genuine personal weight.
Benedetta once captioned a post: “I’ll be your sidekick for life. You are my poetry.” Calafiori responded in kind during her January 2024 birthday: “It’s absurd, but so do I! +27, my strength.” Fan communities on Reddit and TikTok pointed to these exchanges as proof that the relationship was serious — which made the eventual breakup hit harder.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Benedetta Boeme |
| @bboeme | |
| Approximate age during relationship | 26-27 (born circa 1997) |
| Profession | Model, lifestyle influencer |
| Matching tattoo | Koi no Yokan (premonition of love) |
| First public post together | June 2023 |
| Breakup confirmed | July 2024 |
The Viral Interview Kiss That Broke the Internet
Benedetta Boeme kissed Riccardo Calafiori live on camera during a DAZN Italia pitchside interview in May 2024, moments after Bologna secured their historic Champions League qualification — a clip that racked up millions of views on TikTok and cemented the phrase “calafiori girlfriend” as one of Italian football’s most-searched terms that spring.
What Happened During the Interview
Calafiori was speaking to a female reporter for DAZN Italia in the standard post-match mixed zone when Benedetta appeared from the side of the frame. She kissed him mid-sentence, then wrapped him in a hug while maintaining eye contact with the interviewer — a look that Italian social media immediately labeled “marking territory.” Fans debated whether the gesture was playful or jealous — the kind of possessive move that sparks opinion regardless of context. The reporter carried on professionally, Calafiori managed a slightly stunned grin, and DAZN’s own social channels amplified the clip within hours.
The video accumulated millions of TikTok views in under 48 hours. Italian football communities found it endearing. Broader football Twitter debated the etiquette. That mild controversy only extended the clip’s shelf life, driving traffic to Benedetta’s Instagram and pushing her follower count past 33,000.
Why This Particular Kiss Went Viral
Spontaneous on-camera affection during live football broadcasts almost never happens. The sport’s media infrastructure — mixed zones, pitchside protocols, broadcast schedules — rarely produces unscripted intimacy. That rarity is what made the clip feel different from any posed couple photo or curated Instagram post.
According to multiple Italian sports outlets, DAZN Italia reshared the moment on their own social channels, giving it an additional algorithmic boost beyond organic fan sharing. The timing also mattered: Bologna’s Champions League qualification was the biggest story in Italian football that week, and Calafiori was its central character. The kiss piggybacked on peak search interest.
| Platform | How it spread | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Fan reposts and WAG accounts | Millions of views in under 48 hours |
| X (Twitter) | Italian football journalists | Cross-platform debate on etiquette |
| DAZN Italia | Official channel reshare | Algorithmic boost to wider audience |
| Reels and story reposts | Benedetta’s followers surged past 33K |
Calafiori Girlfriend Breakup: What Actually Happened
Benedetta Boeme confirmed the breakup with Riccardo Calafiori via her Instagram (@bboeme) in July 2024, citing a viral TikTok video showing him with another woman as the catalyst — a statement that coincided almost exactly with the official announcement of his 42 million pound transfer from Bologna to Arsenal.
The TikTok Cheating Video
A short video circulated on TikTok in July 2024 appearing to show Calafiori at a party with an unidentified woman. The clip spread rapidly through Italian football fan communities and was reposted across X (formerly Twitter) by accounts like @FootballReprt, whose tweet — “Calafiori’s girlfriend (now ex) caught him cheating on her through a random person’s TikTok” — accumulated over 320 likes and significant engagement.
Calafiori made no public response. Benedetta chose to address it directly.
Benedetta’s Full Breakup Statement
Benedetta posted to her verified Instagram account what became the definitive public account of the split. According to Metro UK and Il Messaggero (2024), her statement read:
“Many of you have been asking what’s been going on in my life lately, so I decided to finally share it with you. Riccardo and I are no longer together at the moment. I don’t know if we will get over it, but I doubt it. I needed some time to process what happened in the last 3-4 days, and I still need more. Thanks to everyone who showed me the video circulating on TikTok this week. I appreciated it, it was important for me to know the truth. I watched it many times, trying to find a reason to forgive, but I couldn’t.”
She added: “I will not tolerate any kind of hate towards me or him. I wish him all the best as he joins Arsenal. He has all my support.”
Both Calafiori and Benedetta subsequently deleted photos of each other from their respective Instagram accounts. The timing — landing squarely during Arsenal’s transfer window — meant that Benedetta’s statement doubled as an accidental transfer confirmation, picked up by SportBible, Metro, and several Italian outlets.
The Fake TikTok Account That Fooled Major Outlets
A fake TikTok account operating under the handle @bboeme_ impersonated Benedetta Boeme and posted fabricated claims about the breakup and Calafiori’s Arsenal transfer — content that La Gazzetta dello Sport and other Italian media outlets reported as genuine before Benedetta intervened.
Real vs. Fake: How to Tell the Difference
Benedetta’s only verified social media presence is her Instagram account @bboeme. She does not have a TikTok account. The impersonator used @bboeme_ (note the underscore) with her photo as a profile picture, which was close enough to fool casual readers and, critically, several working journalists.
According to Sportskeeda (2024), Benedetta responded via Instagram Stories: “I am forced to write here that I have no TikTok profile!! Someone is pretending to be me and writing things that are not true!” She threatened legal action against whoever created the impersonation account.
| Account | Platform | Authentic? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| @bboeme | Yes — Benedetta’s real account | Active (approx. 38K followers) | |
| @bboeme_ | TikTok | No — impersonation | Subject to legal threat |
The practical lesson: any statement attributed to Benedetta Boeme that did not originate from @bboeme on Instagram should be treated with serious skepticism. Multiple Reddit threads on r/soccer and r/Gunners flagged the fake account before mainstream outlets corrected their reporting.
Calafiori’s Current Girlfriend: Megghi Galo (2025)
Riccardo Calafiori’s current girlfriend is Megghi Galo, a 29-year-old Italian model, content creator, and rising actress based in Milan, whom he reportedly began dating in late 2024 after the split from Benedetta Boeme. According to Tribuna.com, the couple was spotted together at Dolce and Gabbana events and other public appearances in early 2025.
Who Is Megghi Galo?
Born March 28, 1996 in Italy, Megghi Galo began modeling in her early teens and built a substantial Instagram following under the handle @megghiigalo, where she has approximately 371,000 followers. According to Famous Birthdays, she is represented by Ftalent agency in Milan and has collaborated with world-renowned fashion brands. Her content spans lifestyle photography, beauty, and travel.
Galo is several years older than Calafiori — she turned 29 in March 2025, compared to Calafiori’s 23. The age gap mirrors the dynamic with Benedetta Boeme, who was also roughly five years his senior. Both women are Italian, both work in the fashion and influencer space, and both had established followings before any association with the defender.
Public Appearances and Confirmation
TelecomAsia reported that Calafiori had been dating Megghi “for only a few months” as of their coverage, placing the relationship’s start around late 2024. Facebook posts from Arsenal fan communities shared photos of the pair together, and a TikTok video from @offpitchgossip captioned “Riccardo Calafiori and Megghi Galo: A New Romance?” attracted significant engagement.
Neither Calafiori nor Galo has made a formal public announcement confirming the relationship. The evidence — shared event appearances, mutual social media interaction, and consistent reporting from multiple outlets — points to an ongoing relationship as of early 2026, though without the kind of public declarations that defined the Benedetta era.
| Detail | Megghi Galo | Benedetta Boeme (ex) |
|---|---|---|
| @megghiigalo (371K followers) | @bboeme (38K followers) | |
| Age | 29 (born March 28, 1996) | Approx. 28 (born circa 1997) |
| Profession | Model, content creator, actress | Model, lifestyle influencer |
| Based in | Milan, Italy | Italy |
| Relationship period | Late 2024 – present | June 2023 – July 2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Calafiori’s girlfriend’s name?
Riccardo Calafiori’s current girlfriend is Megghi Galo, a Milan-based Italian model and content creator with approximately 371,000 Instagram followers (@megghiigalo). His ex-girlfriend is Benedetta Boeme (@bboeme on Instagram), whom he dated from mid-2023 to July 2024.
How old is Calafiori’s girlfriend?
Megghi Galo was born on March 28, 1996, making her 29 years old as of March 2026. His ex-girlfriend Benedetta Boeme is approximately 28, based on Calafiori’s January 2024 Instagram post celebrating her 27th birthday.
Is Calafiori married? Does he have a wife?
No, Riccardo Calafiori is not married and does not have a wife. He is currently in a relationship with Megghi Galo. Despite searches for “calafiori wife,” the 23-year-old Arsenal defender has never been married.
What is the connection between Calafiori’s girlfriend and Dua Lipa?
There is no romantic connection between Calafiori and Dua Lipa. In April 2025, Dua Lipa attended Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal posted a photo of Calafiori posing with the singer, and he captioned his own post “About last night.” Dua Lipa has been in a long-term relationship with actor Callum Turner since early 2024.
What are Calafiori’s girlfriend’s Instagram and TikTok?
Current girlfriend Megghi Galo’s Instagram is @megghiigalo (approximately 371K followers). Ex-girlfriend Benedetta Boeme’s Instagram is @bboeme (approximately 38K followers). Benedetta does not have a TikTok account — the @bboeme_ TikTok profile that circulated in 2024 was a fake impersonation account.
Why did Calafiori and Benedetta break up?
Benedetta Boeme confirmed the breakup in July 2024 after a TikTok video surfaced showing Calafiori with another woman at a party. She stated on Instagram that she “watched it many times, trying to find a reason to forgive, but couldn’t.” The split coincided with Calafiori’s transfer from Bologna to Arsenal.
What is Calafiori’s ex-girlfriend’s name?
Calafiori’s ex-gf is Benedetta Boeme. She is an Italian model whose Instagram handle is @bboeme. The couple dated from approximately June 2023 to July 2024 and had matching “Koi no Yokan” tattoos on their hands.
Who is Calafiori’s mom?
Riccardo Calafiori’s mother is Tiziana Calafiori. His father is Massimo Calafiori, who nicknamed Riccardo “Bulldozer” for his physical playing style. According to Arsenal.com, Calafiori has said his proudest achievement was buying his parents a house with his earnings from Roma: “Seeing them calm, safe and happy is priceless.”
What was the “marking territory” incident with Calafiori’s girlfriend?
The phrase refers to the viral May 2024 moment when Benedetta Boeme kissed Calafiori on camera during a DAZN Italia interview, then stared at the female reporter while embracing him. Italian social media labeled the look as “marking territory,” and the clip amassed millions of TikTok views.
What do Reddit users say about Calafiori’s girlfriend?
Discussions on r/soccer and r/Gunners extensively covered the breakup timeline, the fake TikTok account drama, and the Megghi Galo relationship rumors. Reddit users were among the first to flag the @bboeme_ TikTok account as fake before mainstream outlets corrected their reporting. Multiple threads debated the cheating allegations, with opinions ranging from sympathetic to Benedetta to dismissive of footballer fidelity in general.
Where Things Stand in 2026
Calafiori’s relationship history tracks a specific arc: an intense, tattoo-level commitment with Benedetta Boeme that played out across Italian football’s most public stages, a messy breakup amplified by social media misinformation, and a quieter new chapter with Megghi Galo that has stayed largely out of the tabloid cycle.
At 23, Calafiori remains one of Arsenal’s most important defenders and a regular in the Italy national squad. His personal life has settled into something less headline-generating than the summer of 2024, though the search interest around “calafiori girlfriend” shows no sign of fading — driven partly by continued curiosity about Megghi Galo and partly by the enduring virality of that DAZN interview kiss.
