When did Albert Pujols start dating Nicole Fernandez? Inside the recently married couple's relationship

Before the 2022 season, Albert Pujols announced that he would be returning to his old team, the St. Louis Cardinals, for his final season. Little did fans know that he would be embarking on a totally different personal life in retirement as well.

Pujols recently married Nicole Fernandez, a Dominican.

Pujols was married to a woman named Dierdre, who he stood with through a cancer diagnosis and five children. However, Albert Pujols cited "irreconcilable differences" while filing for divorce from Dierdre, his wife of over 22 seasons, in April 2022.

His new wife, Nicole Fernandez, works as a journalist. She is also the daughter of Lionel Fernandez, the former president of the Dominican Republic. She and Pujols announced their relationship via social media in late 2022, following Pujols' divorce. The two were later married at a private ceremony this month.

"Nicole Fernández a su novio Albert Pujols: "Aquí estoy bebé … firmada, sellada, entregada … Soy tuya".- #JacqueMate" - @ Leonardo Jacquez

Albert Pujols returned to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022 after a decade-long hiatus from the team. Originally drafted by the team in 1999, Pujols won the Rookie of the Year Award, three MVP awards and two World Series with the Cards. Pujols reached god-like status among Cards fans for what he did for the team.

In 2011, although the Cardinals were interested in re-signing him, Pujols instead signed a 10-year, $210 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, striking a dagger through the hearts of many Cards fans.

Upon his return in 2022, Pujols hit his 700th home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers, capping off a career of service to fans who were able to find it in their hearts to forgive the man who broke their hearts more than a decade earlier.

"KMOX broadcast calls Albert Pujols 700th career home run. Rooney & Danny Mac share the moment in the aftermath. #stlcards" - @ VHS

Albert Pujols and Nicole Fernandez look to enjoy retirement

Pujols is likely to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in the coming years. Although fans may share opinions aplenty on his personal life, all that matters is that the former star can enjoy his well-earned retirement with someone truly special.