Shakira and Gerard Piqué face Barcelona court over international custody arrangements

Wednesday 07 - 13:00

Shakira and former Spanish football international Gerard Piqué appeared before a court in Barcelona on Tuesday as they revisit the arrangements governing their two sons, Milan and Sasha, more than four years after the couple announced their separation.

The Colombian singer is seeking an adjustment to the visitation arrangements agreed after the end of their relationship in 2022. According to her legal representatives, the request focuses on limiting the amount of travel undertaken by the children between Miami, where they live with their mother, and Barcelona, where their father is based.

Shakira's lawyers said the proposed changes are intended to safeguard the children's emotional, physical and educational stability rather than restrict their relationship with their father.

Proposal would shift travel burden to Piqué

Under the arrangement proposed by Shakira, Piqué would travel to Miami during periods allocated for his time with the children. Her legal team argues that this solution would allow Milan and Sasha to spend longer stretches within their established routine, particularly during periods when they have school commitments.

The singer's representatives have stressed that the request does not seek to reduce the amount of time the boys spend with their father. Instead, the proposed modification would alter where that time is spent and who undertakes the international travel required to maintain their relationship.

The dispute therefore concerns the practical organization of the existing custody agreement rather than a request to sever or substantially diminish paternal access.

From Barcelona to Miami

Shakira and Piqué began their relationship in 2011 and subsequently became parents to two sons. Milan was born in 2013, followed by Sasha in 2015.

After more than a decade together, the couple publicly confirmed their separation in June 2022. An agreement concerning their children was reached several months later, paving the way for Shakira to leave Barcelona and establish a new home with the boys in Miami.

Piqué retained visitation rights under the agreement, including several days each month and designated holiday periods with his sons.

The former Barcelona defender, who was part of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning team, has since remained based in Barcelona, creating an international dimension to the family's custody arrangements.

Court appearance comes as Shakira closes world tour

The latest legal proceedings come at a significant moment in Shakira's professional schedule. The 49-year-old performer is currently in Madrid, where she is completing the final dates of her global tour with 13 concerts scheduled through October 12.

The tour, titled Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, began in February 2025 and has been closely associated with the Colombian artist's personal transformation following her highly publicized breakup with Piqué.

The project, which earned Shakira a Grammy Award, includes songs reflecting themes of separation, resilience and personal reinvention.

While the Barcelona court hearing concerns the practical realities of raising two children across continents, it also illustrates the continuing logistical challenges facing the former couple as they maintain separate lives in Miami and Barcelona.

For now, the court's consideration of Shakira's request places the focus on how an existing international parenting arrangement can evolve as children grow older and their educational and personal routines become increasingly established.