Colombian pop star Shakira has once again taken center stage in global conversations following a spectacular performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Her performance at the closing ceremony captivated millions of viewers, and she has since dominated the top spots on various music charts. After the final, Shakira shared several photos on social media featuring her alongside Beyoncé, Jay-Z, David Beckham, Tom Cruise, Anya Taylor-Joy, and members of BTS.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez (J-Lo) had hoped to perform at the World Cup event but did not get the opportunity. Last week, she performed at a private Dolce & Gabbana event in Sicily, Italy—a much smaller affair compared to the World Cup stage.
The reports further state that J-Lo had hoped to return to the World Cup stage after her performance at the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Around the same time, her new film, Kiss of the Spider Woman, failed to achieve expected box-office success. A music industry source noted that during the Super Bowl, J-Lo had viewed Shakira almost as a backup artist; however, times have changed, and this time, it was Shakira who stole the spotlight on the global stage.
Rumors Began at the Super Bowl
Rumors of tension between Shakira and Jennifer Lopez first surfaced around the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show. The two had been selected to perform jointly at the event. Shakira sang “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie,” while J-Lo performed “On the Floor” and “Love Don’t Cost a Thing.” Although the show received widespread acclaim, Jennifer Lopez later expressed frustration in the 2022 Netflix documentary Halftime, describing the joint performance as the “worst idea in the world.” Her manager, Benny Medina, stated that implying two Latin artists were needed for a role historically filled by a single artist was insulting.
On the other hand, while Shakira never publicly criticized the situation, she admitted that preparing for the event was far from easy. In her words, “It wasn’t an easy show. There was a lot of hard work and pressure behind it. However, it remains one of the best experiences of my career.”
New Record with World Cup Song
The song “Dai Dai,” performed by Shakira alongside Nigerian artist Burna Boy for the World Cup, garnered immense global popularity. Reports indicate that within minutes of its performance at the World Cup final, the song topped Spotify charts and set a record for the biggest streaming day of Shakira’s career. Shakira announced that she would donate all royalties from “Dai Dai” to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. A music analyst remarked that Shakira’s statistics are incredible; she is dominating nearly every major music chart worldwide.
Success After Personal Turmoil
In 2022, Shakira and former Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué ended their 11-year relationship. Following the split, Shakira released a viral song with Argentine producer Bizarrap that took aim at Piqué and his new partner. In one widely discussed line, she sang, “You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo, a Rolex for a Casio.” Another line declared, “Women don’t cry anymore; they cash in.” The song set multiple Guinness World Records and revitalized Shakira’s career.
A Difficult Time for J-Lo
Conversely, reports suggest that Jennifer Lopez has faced a challenging period recently. In 2024, she was forced to cancel her “This Is Me… Live” tour due to poor ticket sales. Her reunion, marriage, and subsequent separation from former flame Ben Affleck also drew significant public attention. Additionally, several of her recent films failed to achieve the expected success at the box office. However, her business empire—valued at around £300 million and including ‘JLo Beauty’—continues to cement her status as one of the most influential figures in the entertainment world. Reports indicate that Shakira is currently basking in global acclaim; yet, given Jennifer Lopez’s history of making comebacks, it would be premature to write her off in Hollywood just yet.
