Singer Shakira and soccer player Gerard Pique split up

Colombian star Shakira and Spanish football player Gerard Pique announced, today, Saturday, in a joint statement, their separation.

• Read also: Tax Evasion: Shakira nears trial

“We regret to confirm that we are in the process of separating. For the welfare of our children, who are our top priority, we ask that our privacy be respected,” the couple said in a statement sent by the singer’s lawyers.

An international star with over 60 million selling records, Shakira currently resides in the outskirts of Barcelona, ​​with Gerard Pique and their two children.

The 45-year-old singer began her relationship with the FC Barcelona defender in 2010, shortly before the Spanish national team crowned the World Cup in South Africa.

Then Shakira sang her song “Waka Waka” there at the closing ceremony. She and Pique had been texting for a few weeks already. Since then, their spouses have been delighting the paparazzi.

Blending Latin sounds with African rhythms and rock influences, the Colombian has become one of the most listened to Latin American singers in the world, with titles like “Hips Don’t Lie” and “When and Wherever” and has won three Grammy Awards. .

For his part, the 35-year-old has been part of the backbone of La Roja, who scored an impressive hat-trick with Euro 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and won the Champions League three times with Barcelona.

With Shakira, Pique’s stature has taken on another dimension. From a recognized athlete, he became eminently a friend of the media.

His companion allowed him to meet the greats of this world. Then the footballer put on a second hat, the hat of a successful businessman.

In 2015, the couple organized a dinner where the leaders of the Catalan club met with the leaders of the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, which allowed FC Barcelona to secure one of its largest advertising contracts.

Both had to deal with the Spanish courts for tax reasons.

The trial of the Colombian star is approaching in Spain, accused of tax fraud in the amount of 14.5 million euros, after an appeal was rejected by the courts at the end of May.

For his part, Gerard Pique saw that the Spanish justice provided him with a reason at the end of 2021 to overturn a conviction that obligated the player to pay 2.1 million euros to Spanish tax authorities for the alleged fraud of his image rights. .