The Spaniard was married to Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira since 2011 after meeting on the set of the music video for “Waka Waka,” the official song of the South Africa World Cup. The two enjoyed a fairly placid relationship until May 2022, when his affair with Clara Chia Marti, an employee at his production company Kosmos, came to light.
The affair was exposed somewhat comically as Shakira reportedly returned home to Barcelona after travelling with their children to find a half-eaten jar of strawberry jam. Knowing that her husband hated jam, she suspected the worst.
Things moved quickly from there. It transpired that the affair had lasted for months, and Spain’s most iconic couple quickly and publicly arranged for a divorce.
The drama between the two has reignited in recent weeks with the release of an eponymous diss track against her ex-husband released in collaboration with Argentine DJ Bizarrap. She mocks her ex-husband throughout the song, singing that “You swapped a Ferrari for a Twingo, You swapped a Rolex for a Casio,” and adding that “I was out of your league, which is why you’re with someone just like you.” At the time of writing, the song has garnered over 240 million views on YouTube and nearly 190 million plays on Spotify, less than three weeks after its release.
In retaliation, Pique has purchased a Renault Twingo and begun wearing a Casio G-Shock while happily posing for photos with his new girlfriend. He has also signed a multi-million Euro deal with Casio to sponsor Kings League, a semi-professional 7-a-side league which he co-owns.
The end of Pique and Shakira’s high-profile relationship marks the end of an era, not just for the couple but also their fans, many of whom are likely still processing his shock retirement from professional football in November.