American football star Ositadimma “Osi” Umenyiora has sparked a frenzy of reports after disclosing that he has proposed to girlfriend Leila Lopes, the 2011 Miss Universe.

The 31-year-old Osi was born in Golders Green, London to Nigerian parents and schooled in Atlantic Hall in Epe, Lagos when his family moved back to Nigeria. The family however later relocated to the USA, where Osi started playing American football in high school and has since become a superstar with the New York Giants.

Newspapers across the globe have been abuzz since Osi tweeted a picture of he and Lopes in Italy soon after the reported proposal. The caption read “my beautiful fiancee.”

Lopes, 26, hails from Angola and studied in England. When she won the Miss Universe pageant in 2011, she became only the fourth African to win the crown in the 60-year history of the event.

Osi and Leila began dating after being introduced at last year’s Fashion Week in New York. They’re looking to have a 2014 wedding, according to The New York Post.

•Photo: Osi and Leila.