Shakira reveals she thought she was weak before her split from Piqué

Shakira is proving that some of life's toughest moments can become the foundation for an extraordinary comeback. The global music icon, now 49, has spent the last several years navigating personal challenges under an intense public spotlight. From her highly publicized split from former soccer star Gerard Piqué to a lengthy legal battle in Spain, the Colombian superstar has endured a period that tested her strength in ways she never expected.

Looking back, Shakira says those experiences revealed a resilience she didn't know she possessed. “I always thought that I was more fragile or weaker than what life proved me to be,” says Shakira in the latest cover story for People. Today, she finds herself in one of the most successful chapters of her career. The singer is breaking records on her biggest tour to date and preparing to make history as one of the headliners of the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final halftime show.

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For Shakira, the road back to the top was paved with hard-earned lessons. “Behind every experience in life, there’s always a lesson, and we have to be grateful for all those lessons, even for the people that leave you with scars,” she says. “Because they just make us better.”

Her split from retired Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué, 39, became one of the most talked-about celebrity breakups in recent years. The former couple, who share sons Milan, 13, and Sasha, 11, ended their 12-year relationship in 2022 amid allegations of infidelity.

Rather than retreat from the spotlight, Shakira channeled her emotions into music. That transformation reached a defining moment on Jan. 11, 2023, when she released “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” alongside Argentine producer Bizarrap. The unapologetic breakup anthem quickly became a cultural phenomenon, dominating streaming platforms around the world.

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The song debuted at No. 1 on Spotify's Daily Global 200 chart and earned Shakira her first Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit in more than a decade. More importantly, it marked the beginning of a new artistic era, one rooted in authenticity and self-empowerment.

While music helped Shakira process personal pain, she was simultaneously dealing with legal challenges. The singer was involved in a multimillion-dollar tax-fraud case in Spain, a battle that generated headlines for years. Emerging victorious from the ordeal added another layer to what has become a remarkable comeback story.

Now, Shakira is focused on the future. One of the biggest milestones ahead is her appearance at the inaugural FIFA World Cup Final halftime show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. She will share the stage with fellow music powerhouses Madonna and BTS in what is expected to be one of the most-watched performances in entertainment history.

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The event carries special significance for Shakira. Her connection to soccer stretches back decades. Twenty years ago, she first performed at a World Cup tournament. In 2010, she delivered “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official World Cup anthem that became a global sensation and remains one of the most recognizable sports songs ever recorded. That same tournament also changed her personal life forever. “I have this connection with [soccer] that seems unbreakable,” she says.

It was during the 2010 World Cup that she met Piqué, setting in motion a relationship that would shape the next chapter of her life. Despite how that story ultimately ended, Shakira remains grateful for the role soccer has played in her journey.

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As she prepares for another World Cup moment, her focus is on unity and connection. “Every World Cup is really magical, and I think this one is going to be all about bringing people together in this very sensitive moment in time, socially and politically,” she says.

That message feels especially fitting for an artist whose career has always transcended borders, languages, and cultures. The woman who once questioned her own resilience is now standing as living proof of it. And as she prepares to take one of the world's biggest stages once again, Shakira is undoubtedly demonstrating that she is a warrior.