9 hours ago
13
Colombian pop star Shakira has sent social media into a frenzy after publicly congratulating 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Gavi on his selection for the 2026 World Cup squad.
Gavi took to Instagram on May 25 to share his good news of being named in Spain's 26-man roster for the World Cup. He reflected on his challenging journey back to fitness after suffering two major injuries over the past three years.
"It’s a dream come true to play in the World Cup," he wrote in Spanish. "But this time will be very different after all the suffering, after two times falling down and getting back up in three years. I will give my all to bring the trophy home. Being named in the 26-man squad is a pride and honor, and we will make you proud."
For the post's background music, Gavi chose "Dai Dai," a recent collaboration between Shakira and Burna Boy. The track serves as one of the official anthems for the 2026 World Cup.
The Colombian singer, 49, who had a 12-year relationship with former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Piqué, quickly noticed. She left a supportive comment under the post, simply reading: "Muy feliz por ti Gavi!!" (So happy for you, Gavi).
 |
|
Shakira's comment seen on Gavi's post about being selected for Spain's 2026 World Cup squad. |
The brief interaction immediately caught the attention of fans, amassing over 30,000 likes and around 150 replies.
Many fans were surprised at the connection between the global pop icon and the young Barcelona star.
"Gavi really has everyone's affection," a user wrote, while another asked, "Since when have these two been so close?"
Gavi initially burst onto the international scene in October 2021, making his UEFA Nations League debut to become Spain's youngest-ever player at just 17 years and 62 days old.
He quickly followed that up by becoming the nation's youngest goalscorer. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he started all four of Spain's matches and scored against Costa Rica, cementing his place as one of the youngest goalscorers in the tournament's history, second only to Pelé and Manuel Rosas.
However, his rise was derailed by back-to-back injuries. In late 2023, an ACL tear in his right knee sidelined him for 348 days, forcing him to miss both Euro 2024 and the 2024 Olympics. He made an emotional return for Barcelona in October 2024, and was handed the captain's armband upon his substitution, Mundo Deportivo reported.
Tragedy struck again in September 2025 when Gavi tore his right knee meniscus, requiring another surgery. After months of rehabilitation, the 21-year-old returned to training in March 2026, and was called up by Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente for the World Cup.
His Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal posted a heartwarming video showing Gavi shouting with joy and embracing his teammates during training upon hearing the news of his national team call-up.
Meanwhile, Shakira continues to cement her legacy as the undisputed "Queen of World Cup Music."
"Dai Dai" joins her catalog of tournament hits, successfully following in the footsteps of 2006's "Hips Don't Lie (Bamboo)," 2010's global smash "Waka Waka," and 2014's "Dare (La La La)."
