Shakira and Gerard Piqué’s relationship was the kind that seemed pulled straight from a fairy tale—until it wasn’t. The Colombian singer and the Spanish soccer star first crossed paths in 2010, during the filming of the music video for Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. Piqué, a star defender for FC Barcelona and a key player for the Spanish national team, had a brief cameo in the video alongside other prominent footballers like Lionel Messi and Dani Alves.
At the time, Shakira had no idea who he was, admitting years later in an interview with 60 Minutes that she “wasn’t a soccer fan.” But something about him stood out to her. Piqué, meanwhile, was intrigued enough to slide into her messages with a simple icebreaker: he asked about the weather in South Africa. The rest, as they say, is history.
Who Is Shakira’s Husband? Was It Gerard Piqué?
Shakira was never officially married, but she was in a long-term relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, whom many mistakenly referred to as her husband, for 11 years, from 2011 to 2022. They met in 2010 during the filming of her Waka Waka music video and had two children, Milan (born 2013) and Sasha (born 2015), before announcing their separation in June 2022.
By the time Spain won the World Cup that year, Piqué had earned himself more than just a championship title—he had caught Shakira’s attention. Their romance blossomed quickly, though at the time, Shakira was still publicly tied to her longtime partner, Argentine lawyer Antonio de la Rúa. She and de la Rúa announced their official split in January 2011, revealing that they had actually been separated since August 2010.
Just a month later, Shakira and Piqué were spotted spending time together, and in March 2011, they made their relationship Instagram-official. Shakira posted a photo of the two of them with the caption, “Les presento a mi sol…”—“I present to you my sun.”
The couple seemed inseparable after that. In May 2011, Piqué even joined Shakira on stage during a concert in Barcelona, where the two shared a kiss, much to the delight of fans. By 2012, they had their first major milestone together—Shakira announced her pregnancy, and on January 22, 2013, their son Milan Piqué Mebarak was born. Two years later, on January 29, 2015, they welcomed their second son, Sasha Piqué Mebarak.
Family life appeared to suit them well, and the couple frequently shared glimpses of their domestic bliss on social media. However, despite their deep bond, marriage was never on the table. In a 2020 interview, Shakira candidly admitted that “marriage scares the s— out of me,” adding that she preferred to keep things fresh and unpredictable. Piqué echoed this sentiment, referring to her as his “girlfriend” rather than a wife.
For years, their partnership seemed unshakable. Shakira made sacrifices, moving to Spain to support Piqué’s soccer career while also managing her own global stardom. She later revealed in a 2024 interview that she had put her career “on hold” to be there for him, ensuring that their family had stability while he focused on football. Piqué, meanwhile, remained one of the most celebrated defenders in football, winning numerous titles with FC Barcelona and retiring from international soccer in 2018. Shakira even paid tribute to him on Instagram, calling his 2010 World Cup victory “one of the happiest moments of my life.”
But behind closed doors, cracks had begun to form. By early 2022, rumors of trouble in paradise surfaced, with Spanish media alleging that Piqué had been unfaithful. On June 4, 2022, the couple issued a joint statement confirming their separation, asking for privacy for the sake of their children. However, the fallout was anything but private.
Shakira channeled her heartbreak into music, releasing “BZRP Music Session #53” in January 2023, an explosive diss track that took direct aim at Piqué and his new girlfriend, Clara Chia Marti. With lyrics like “You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo, a Rolex for a Casio,” she made no effort to hide her contempt for his actions. The song quickly became an anthem for scorned women everywhere.
Lol nah son, @Shakira might have the illest diss song from a breakup of all time with this Music Session #53
Imagine fumbling that and her response is a global smash 😂🤌🏾.
pic.twitter.com/aeCrFnGKDo
— Kennyatta (@ItsKennyatta) January 12, 2023
The post-breakup period was tumultuous. In November 2022, after a months-long legal battle, Shakira and Piqué reached a custody agreement, allowing her to move to Miami with their two sons while Piqué remained in Barcelona. The singer later revealed that she had discovered Piqué’s betrayal while her father was in the ICU, making the ordeal even more painful. As she rebuilt her life, Piqué went public with Clara Chia Marti in January 2023, posting their first couple’s selfie on Instagram.
Despite the heartbreak, Shakira emerged stronger. She embraced single motherhood, focused on her music, and relocated to Miami for a fresh start. In a March 2024 interview, she admitted that being with Piqué had “dragged her down” and that she finally felt like herself again. Meanwhile, her new album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (“Women No Longer Cry”), became a symbol of resoluteness and reinvention.
