Shakira says she has ‘no time’ for romance at ‘peak’ of her career

By Ellie Crabbe, Press Association

Shakira has said she has “no space or time for romance”, adding she feels that she is at the “peak of my career”.

The Colombian pop superstar, who last week released Dai Dai, the official song for the 2026 World Cup with Nigerian musician Burna Boy, told the Times her “plate is quite full” as she is preparing to star in the first-ever half-time show at the tournament final.

“Oh no, no romance for me for now,” she told the newspaper. “There’s no space or time in my life for that.

“My plate is quite full. My kids are my priority. And my career. Strangely enough, I’m in love with my career like I’ve never been in my life. I’m enjoying my time alone as well.”

The singer, 49, separated with her partner Gerard Pique, the now-retired Spanish footballer, in June 2022 after 11 years together.

They have two children together – sons Milan, 13, and 11-year-old Sasha.

“I will always have that gratitude in my heart for the father of my kids and turning me into the mother that I am today,” she said.

Shakira told the Times she has not talked to her children about which team they will be supporting in the World Cup, which starts next month.

“I don’t want to hear the answer,” she joked. “So I don’t ask those questions.”

Known for hits including Hips Don’t Lie and Waka Waka, the 2010 World Cup song, Shakira has been hailed as one of the most successful Latin artists of all time having sold more 95 million records worldwide.

Despite her accolades, including four Grammys, the 49-year-old said she feels she is at the top of her game now.

She said: “I do feel that I’m at the peak of my career.

“I’ve been doing this professionally for 30 years and I still feel like I’m just starting.”

Asked about fellow pop megastar Taylor Swift, Shakira revealed that collaborating with her “would be a dream”.

Shakira will be joined by Madonna and South Korean boy band BTS to headline the World Cup final half-time show.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who revealed the line-up in a social media video featuring characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets, is the curator of the landmark performance, scheduled to take place on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

“It’s going to be extraordinary,” Shakira told the Times.

Court documents seen this week revealed the singer had been acquitted in a tax fraud case by a Spanish court.

The Spanish government was ordered to return more than 55 million euro (£48 million) in wrongly imposed fines following years of tax troubles in Spain for Shakira.

“Life sometimes can be a bitch, but it’s also beautiful and made of light and shadows,” she said, speaking of the difficulties she has faced during her career.

“So, I thank life for every single moment, the bright ones and the dark ones, the people who have made me suffer because they have become my masters who have taught me lessons, very valuable lessons.”