LONDON — After countless denials of domestic trouble, Madonna and Guy Ritchie announced Wednesday they are divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage.

In recent years, reports began to accumulate that Madonna and her filmmaker husband were on the rocks. Over the summer, Madonna was linked to the breakup of New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his ex-wife Cynthia.

Madonna and Ritchie, director of “Snatch” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” married in December 2000. The couple have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.

The couple are reportedly worth some $525 million, the bulk belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune.