The world watched in shock as Shakira and Piqué, the fairytale couple of 11 years, announced their split. Speculation about what could have led to the breakup was rampant, and Shakira’s fiery new song fanned the flames. 

Shakira and Piqué met in Madrid, Spain, and the central defender promptly asked for her phone number. Days later, he contacted her during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 

At the dawn of 2011, the two stars were seen strolling hand in hand in the street, causing the rumor mill to spin out of control. Adding fuel to the fire was a video of them celebrating Piqué’s birthday together.

A couple of months later, Piqué made a surprise appearance at Shakira’s concert in Barcelona with his teammates, Xavi Hernandez, Bojan Krkić, and Sergio Busquets. The group had an enjoyable time mastering her signature moves. After the show, Piqué sealed the moment with a passionate kiss.

The lovebirds chose Barcelona as the place to build their nest. For 14 million euros, they bought a 3,800 square meter property in the luxurious Ciutat Diagonal district of Esplugues de Llobregat. 

In September of the following year, Shakira and Piqué achieved a significant milestone in their relationship—a baby! The singer broke the news via her website, and delighted fans of the celebrity couple were ecstatic to hear they were starting a family.

Despite their busy lives, Shakira and Piqué made room for their family. They had to squeeze their schedules to make it work, and they pulled it off. 

The couple’s second blessing arrived in January 2015. They were parents to another baby boy, Sasha. Although they didn’t have more children, there was a rumor of a third child during the 2018 World Cup.

Celebrities often struggle to sustain romantic relationships because of their complicated schedules. Many go weeks or even months without seeing each other, and sometimes the distance and lack of quality time affect the relationship greatly.  

As a public figure, it’s difficult to avoid the prying eyes of the media and fans who wait eagerly for any scoop about your private life. Separation speculation plagued the couple as they had not been publicly seen together for some time. 

For years, the couple faced one pressing question: when would they marry?

In 2014, Shakira expressed how marriage is not essential as they are already in love and have established a family. Still, she hinted that he was the one she would marry.

Undoubtedly, the ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ singer is one of the most famous artists in the world. Along with her chartbuster songs and sensual moves, Shakira has been the queen of countless hearts. 

Couples help each other make critical decisions. In this case, it wasn’t only Piqué who influenced Shakira’s work—the singer also factored heavily into Piqué’s football career decisions. 

Artists love dedicating their creations to their significant others—the Latin star was no different. Shakira, ever the romantic, put her heart and soul into her April 2017 single, ‘Me Enamoré,’ off her El Dorado album. The song served as a love letter to her beloved Piqué.

Shakira and Piqué were happy together, and her family seamlessly integrated into their lives. Both families adored them, and Shakira’s father, William Mebarak, even expressed his desire to have a third grandchild in 2020. 

The world plunged into turmoil in 2020, lasting almost two years. During this time, many couples suffered strained relationships, and unfortunately, Shakira and Piqué’s relationship also took a severe hit. 

It was no surprise when Forbes named the former celebrity duo one of ‘The World’s Most Powerful Couples.’ Shakira and Piqué had achieved incredible success and had a massive fan following. 

After their high-profile split, the estranged couple faced the public for the first time at their son Milan’s baseball tournament in the Czech Republic—they chose to keep their distance while cheering for their son.  

While the pair’s separation may not have been amicable, they kept their differences aside for the sake of their two sons. They reached a custody arrangement relatively easily with the sole intention of their children’s well-being.

Before the star couple announced their separation, the tabloids were rife with speculation that there was trouble brewing in paradise. In fact, many believed Shakira’s song ‘Te felicito,’ which she released with Rauw Alejandro in April 2022, alluded to Piqué’s unfaithful ways.