Lionel Messi and Shakira Consolidate More Than Fifteen Years of Loyalty in World Football Anthems

For the Hispanic community in the United States, soccer and music represent fundamental pillars of identity, pride, and belonging. The convergence of two of the most globally influential Latin American icons—Colombian superstar Shakira and Argentine legend Lionel Messi—has built a parallel story of loyalty and collaboration that transcends borders. From the early major successes of both in their respective disciplines to the consolidation of their careers, the continued presence of the star from Rosario in the musical-sports projects of the singer from Barranquilla stands out as an uninterrupted bond in the history of international entertainment and sports.

It all began in 2010 with the creation of "Waka Waka," the official World Cup anthem that defined an entire generation. At that time, a young Messi, just 23 years old, agreed to be part of Shakira's audiovisual project, participating during a crucial stage of his own sporting trajectory. No one imagined then that this was the start of an alliance that would last for decades, at a time when the Argentine forward was still chasing the biggest dream of his professional life: lifting the coveted World Cup with his country's national team.

Four years later, history repeated itself during soccer's major tournament at Brazil 2014. Shakira presented the song "La La La," and once again Lionel Messi took part in the Colombian singer-songwriter's project. His participation was not due to contractual demands or passing trends, but rather a constant willingness to collaborate in an initiative that brought international fans together once again. While various artists, footballers, and entire generations changed over the course of successive tournaments, Messi remained a fixture alongside the performer.

Heading into the 2026 World Cup with the official track titled "Da," this alliance will reach a new milestone. In this recent production, Messi appears once again, uttering the phrase "We are ready." However, the current context is substantially different: he is no longer that promising youth dreaming of lifting the world trophy, but rather an established World Champion considered a true legend of the sport. His presence confirms more than fifteen years of shared relevance and constant collaboration alongside the singer.

Many fans and analysts have wondered how history might have unfolded if other major international soccer figures, such as Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, had taken part in these musical anthems. Although a collaboration of that scale would have made a huge impact on global audiences, that meeting never materialized. Messi's continuous presence takes on even greater value given his current standing: after reaching the pinnacle of world soccer, the Argentine captain does not need to appear in any audiovisual production to build his sporting legacy. Nevertheless, he kept saying yes to Shakira's projects time and time again.

For the Hispanic community living in the United States, seeing two Latino icons lead the cultural scene on a global scale for over fifteen years holds special meaning. Although Shakira has brought together prominent sports figures in her recordings over the years, Messi stands out as the only athlete who has accompanied the artist through the three most significant musical moments of her World Cup journey, demonstrating constant professional loyalty.

This collaboration will endure in the collective memory as a testament to loyalty and mutual respect. In the future, when the Argentine star shares his experiences with his grandchildren and recalls his participation in productions like "Waka Waka," "La La La," and "Da," he will be able to tell them with pride that he was an active part of several of the most memorable moments in World Cup history, cementing a legacy of loyalty that cannot be bought.