On the surface, it was a breezy Instagram story from a pop star heading to a football match. Read in context, Shakira’s public thank-you to Kylian Mbappe arrived at the precise moment the France captain needed the world’s affection most. Posted Thursday before France’s World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Morocco, the Colombian singer shared a detail few fans knew about her tournament anthem.
“Fun fact, did you know that the first player to accept participating in my Dai Dai video was Mbappe? Kylian, I’m forever grateful to you. Thank you so much,” she said, tagging the forward with a heart emoji.
The Dai Dai video, Shakira’s official 2026 World Cup anthem with Burna Boy, features a constellation of stars including Messi, Haaland, Vinicius Jr., and Harry Kane, and has passed 370 million YouTube views, playing in stadiums before every match. That Mbappe said yes first, before any of them, is the kind of detail that burnishes a global brand.
But the subtext matters. The message came as Mbappe faced repeated racist verbal attacks from Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, remarks the player called despicable, which have prompted Paris prosecutors to open proceedings.
Against that backdrop, one of the world’s most followed entertainers publicly declaring eternal gratitude reads as a deliberate gesture of solidarity.
Mbappe answered on the pitch too, scoring in France’s 2-0 win over Morocco to reach the semifinals, despite seeing a penalty saved by Yassine Bounou.
🚨🚨🎙️| Shakira on Mbappe:”Did you know that the 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 player to accept participating in my Dai Dai video was Mbappe? Kylian, I’m forever grateful to you. Thank you so much.” 😂❤️🇫🇷pic.twitter.com/3LZy18AAwL
— Goals Side (@goalsside) July 10, 2026
The two stars’ paths may cross again soon. Shakira headlines the tournament’s first-ever final halftime show at MetLife Stadium on July 19, alongside Madonna, BTS, and Justin Bieber.
If France goes the distance, the anthem’s singer and its first volunteer could share football’s biggest stage. iShareNews will follow both storylines.
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