NEW YORK: Pop queen Madonna and her husband of seven years, film maker Guy Ritchie, have denied all speculation that their marriage is on the rocks and that divorce is on the cards.

"There are no divorce plans," Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's publicist, said in a statement.

Madonna, 49, and Ritchie, 39, were introduced to each other by former Police frontman Sting and his wife Trudie Styler, and were married in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in northeast Scotland.

While rumours of the couple's failing marriage have been going around for weeks on end, speculation seemed to reach its peak when it was reported that Madonna had engaged Fiona Shackleton, Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer, to represent her.

Adding fuel to the fire has also been reports of a growing relationship between Madonna and New York Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez, 32, who has recently separated from his wife Cynthia Rodriguez, just three months after giving birth to their second daughter.

However, spokesperson Rosenberg was quick to fan away all rumours.

"Madonna and Alex have the same manager, Guy Oseary. They have met. They know each other and Madonna took her kids to a Yankees game last week. There's really not anything to comment on beyond that" she said.

In the meantime, adding to the saga, Rodriguez has also been romantically linked to rocker Lenny Kravitz, after she had reportedly visited him in his Paris home recently.

Madonna and Ritchie have a son, Rocco, 7, and in 2006, Madonna successfully applied to adopt David Banda, Malawi whose mother died shortly after his birth.

Madonna also has a daughter, Lourdes, from her previous relationship with her former personal trainer Carlos Leon.

- CNA/os