Shakira's support for Messi sparks fan backlash at World Cup 2026 final

Colombian singer Shakira performed the halftime show at the World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium and publicly declared her support for Lionel Messi and the Argentine team. Despite her two sons holding Spanish nationality and her ex‑husband Gerard Piqué being a former Spanish World Cup champion, Shakira said she admired Messi's longevity and expressed pride on Instagram after the match.

Her comments triggered a wave of criticism from Spanish supporters who accused her of turning her back on Spain and suggested the endorsement was motivated by personal resentment over her divorce. The reaction unfolded on social media as the match concluded with Spain defeating Argentina 1‑0 after extra time.