NFL icon Tom Brady has already made headlines in 2026.The 48-year-old former quarterback has gone viral after being spotted getting close with popular influencer Alix Earle in St.Barts on Dec 31 at a New Year’s Eve yacht party.View Tweet: https://t.co/aJ9xPHePePTMZ were the first to post the video, which quickly caught fire on social media.The pair are seen chatting and dancing with each other, while at one point Earle whispers something in seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady’s ear while rubbing her hand along his back.Another video shows Brady appearing to place his hand around her lower waist.“They were at a yacht party and met, and broke off from the larger group, talking for a lot of the night,” a source is quoted in a report by Page Six.Much of this story has been dominated by the fact is Earle is 25, and Brady is 48, meaning there is a 23-year age gap between them.Brady is in his second year as Fox Sports lead color analyst, having signed a $375million deal with the network following the conclusion of his playing career.Inevitably, Brady is facing criticism for hanging out with someone significantly younger than him, but Barstool Sports founder, Dave Portnoy – never shy to share an opinion – has leapt to his defense.“I’m seeing lot of negative Nancy’s commenting on the 23-year age gap between Brady and Alix Earle,” Portnoy wrote on X. “Unbiased I say let them live! Age is just a number. And if you could pull Alix Earle at almost 50 you would. #laughlovelive2026”Portnoy’s tweet has gone viral alongside the video, with his comment amassing over two million views.Barstool founder decided to defend Brady after a video of him and Earle surfaced on social mediaGETTYBrady divorced his ex-wife, Gisele Bundchen, in 2022 and has not remarriedGetty“You date young as well though not really unbiased,” one fan wrote in reply to Portnoy.“Tom Brady learned more than just football from Bill Bellichik,” another wrote.Earle recently announced her split from Houston Texans wide receiver – and one-time teammate of Brady at the New England Patriots – Braxton Berrios.After nearly two years together, Earle tearfully broke the news to fans in a TikTok video in November.“Braxton and I are no longer together,” she said.“We have been doing long distance since, basically, June and we haven’t gotten to see each other that often. It’s just been really difficult for me.”Meanwhile, Brady has been photographed with a number of women since his high-profile divorce from Gisele Bundchen who recently announced that she has married jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente Ahead of the party, Earle told her fans she was going to a New Years’ event. “I’m foreseeing really good vibes for tonight,” Earle wrote on TikTok ahead of the New Year’s party.“We’ve been staying on a boat with a bunch of friends, but we’re going to a party tonight that’s gonna be on land. Calvin Harris is playing.”Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.