In the summer of 2026, Shakira finds herself once again at the center of the global stage, poised to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City and co-headline the tournament’s first-ever half-time show. Yet, even as her career reaches new heights, the Colombian superstar’s personal life continues to be a subject of intense public fascination. At 49, she is navigating life as a devoted mother, a resilient artist, and a woman carefully charting her own course after a very public and painful separation.
The past few years have been a period of profound transformation for Shakira. She has channeled her heartbreak into critically acclaimed music, moved to Miami with her children to start anew, and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. As she prepares for her historic World Cup performances, her focus remains firmly fixed on her family and her career, a balance she has described as her top priority. This article looks at the state of Shakira’s family and her romantic life as of 2026.
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A Family Built on Music and a High-Profile Split
At the heart of Shakira’s world are her two sons, Milan and Sasha, whom she shares with her former partner, the retired Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué. Milan was born on January 22, 2013, and his younger brother Sasha followed on January 29, 2015. The singer has often joked that her children are her “Waka Waka babies,” as they would not have been born had she not recorded the iconic 2010 World Cup anthem, which is also how she met Piqué. In 2026, Milan is 13 and Sasha is 11, and Shakira has made it clear that raising them is her “number one mission in life.”
The relationship between Shakira and Piqué was one of the most famous celebrity pairings of the 2010s. They were together for over a decade before officially announcing their separation in June 2022. The split was reportedly triggered by Piqué’s infidelity, a topic Shakira has addressed obliquely in her music. While their breakup was highly publicized and painful—she has called it her “darkest moment”—Shakira has since adopted a conciliatory tone.
She told The Times in 2026, “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.” Despite the end of their romance, they remain connected through co-parenting their two sons.
Romance in 2026: Rumors and a Focus on Self
As of 2026, Shakira is not married, and she has not reconciled with Gerard Piqué. Instead, she has been very clear about her current romantic priorities. In a May 2026 interview with The Times, she stated emphatically: “Oh no, no romance for me for now. There’s no space or time in my life for that. My plate is quite full. My kids are my priority. And my career.” This sentiment was echoed in a subsequent interview with People magazine, where she said she was “not thinking of future partners” and that her focus is entirely on her children.
However, the media and fans have been quick to speculate. In June 2026, Shakira was photographed leaving the Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles with Mexican actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. The 45-year-old actor, known for his role in The Lincoln Lawyer, was seen helping Shakira into a car, sparking a flurry of dating rumors. While these sightings have fueled gossip, Shakira has not confirmed a relationship. Just weeks before, she had publicly stated that dating was not on her radar. The singer has also been romantically linked to British actor Lucien Laviscount, though the status of that rumored relationship remains unclear.
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For now, it appears that Shakira is embracing her independence and focusing on the two most important men in her life: her sons, Milan and Sasha.
