Shakira Takes Centre Stage at World Cup Final Halftime Show
Shakira will perform at the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, joining Justin Bieber, Madonna, and BTS as Spain and Argentina compete for the title. The Colombian pop icon has released multiple World Cup anthems, including 'Dai Dai' featuring Burna Boy for 2026, 'La La La' for 2014, and the iconic 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' for 2010.
Her connection to football extends beyond music. Shakira was in an 11-year relationship with former Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, the father of her two children. Their acrimonious split played out publicly with cheating allegations and viral diss tracks. Since then, she has been linked to Lewis Hamilton, Tom Cruise, NBA star Jimmy Butler, and British actor Lucien Laviscount.
Antonio de la Rua (2000–2010)
Shakira's first high-profile romance was with Antonio de la Rua, son of Argentina's former president Fernando de la Rúa. They started dating in 2000 before her global breakthrough. Antonio helped manage her career, including her leap into the English-speaking market with 'Laundry Service' (2001), which featured hits like 'Whenever, Wherever.' Despite getting engaged in 2001, they never married. In a 2009 interview, Shakira said, 'The fact is, I'm not very traditionalist. We live together as husband and wife, we don't need anything to make it official.'
After their 2011 split, bitter legal battles ensued. Antonio sought 18% of Shakira's earnings during his time as her advisor, citing his strategic vision. Shakira countersued for damages. By August 2025, the former couple appeared to have reconciled, spotted having dinner in San Diego with her children and brother.
Gerard Piqué (2011–2022)
Shakira met Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué in 2010 on the set of her 'Waka Waka' music video. 'I wasn't a soccer fan, so I didn't know who he was,' she told 60 Minutes in 2020. 'When I saw the video, I was like, "Hmm, that one's kind of cute." And then someone decided to introduce us.' They confirmed their romance in March 2011 when Piqué shared a photo on social media captioned 'Les presento a mi sol' (I present to you my sun). They made their red carpet debut in January 2012 at the FIFA Ballon d'Or Awards.
The couple had two sons: Milan, born January 22, 2013, weighing 6 lbs 6 oz, and Sasha, born January 29, 2015. Shakira praised Piqué as a hands-on father. Despite their long relationship, marriage was not a priority. In a 2020 joint interview, Shakira said, 'To tell you the truth, marriage scares the s*** out of me. I don't want him to see me as the wife.' She added, 'I want him to think that anything's possible depending on behaviour.'
On June 4, 2022, the couple announced their split after 11 years. Their statement read: 'We regret to confirm that we are separating. We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our children.' In a September 2022 Elle interview, Shakira described the period as 'one of the most difficult, darkest hours of my life,' citing tabloid gossip and her father's illness. Reports of infidelity surfaced, with Piqué allegedly involved with Clara Chia Marti.
Shakira released the diss track 'BZRP Music Session #53' with Argentine producer Bizarrap in January 2023, targeting Piqué and Marti. She sang, 'I won't get back with you, not if you cry, not even if you beg me.' The song included wordplay on 'pique' and 'clara.' Piqué responded in a March 2023 El Pais interview, saying, 'I keep doing what I want. The day I die, I will look back and hope I have always done what I wanted.'
In April 2023, Shakira moved to Miami with her children. Piqué later threw shade on a podcast, calling her fans 'people without lives.' Shakira clapped back on Twitter: 'I'm proud of being Latin American.' In June 2023, she told People en Español, 'My home was falling apart. I was finding out through the press that I had been betrayed while my dad was in the ICU.' By March 2024, she celebrated being 'husbandless' on The Tonight Show, saying, 'The husband was dragging me down. Now I'm free.'
Lewis Hamilton (2023)
In May 2023, Shakira and Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton were spotted together after she attended the F1 Grand Prix. They were photographed on a boat outing in Miami and at the Spanish Grand Prix in June. A source told PEOPLE they were 'fun and flirty.' However, Shakira told Rolling Stone they were just 'friends,' adding, 'What space do I have for a man right now?'
Tom Cruise (2023)
Shakira and Tom Cruise fueled romance rumors after being photographed together at the 2023 Miami F1 Grand Prix. A source told Page Six that Cruise was 'extremely interested in pursuing her.' But a source close to Shakira told US Weekly, 'She has no interest in dating him. She isn't focused on dating him or anybody else at the moment.'
Jimmy Butler (2023)
Shakira was linked to NBA star Jimmy Butler after attending Miami Heat playoff games. They were seen on a dinner date in London in July 2023. Butler addressed speculation in a Rolling Stone interview: 'She's an incredible human being and an incredible talent. Just because people hang out doesn't mean anybody's dating.'
Lucien Laviscount (2024–2026)
Shakira was linked to British actor Lucien Laviscount after he starred in her steamy 'Puntería' music video in 2024. They were spotted on a dinner date at Carbone in New York City. Laviscount posted a now-deleted Instagram photo playing pool with the caption 'Shooting my shot…' Neither publicly commented on the romance, but Laviscount told E! News, 'To work with such an amazing talent, artist, and human being was incredible.' They appeared to confirm their romance with coordinated social media posts but split by May 2026, when Laviscount last interacted with her Instagram post teasing 'Dai Dai.'
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (2026)
In July 2026, Shakira was linked to Mexican actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. They were seen leaving a hotel together in Los Angeles, with Garcia-Rulfo opening the car door for her. Fans celebrated the potential romance on social media, with one writing, 'Manuel omg. Shakira he is a CATCH.'
