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Hits don’t lie! Shakira’s 20 best songs, from World Cup anthems to megastar duets – ranked!
The Guardian has published a ranked list of Shakira's 20 best songs, timed to coincide with her scheduled performance at Sunday's World Cup final. The countdown spans her career from 1990s Latin pop breakthroughs through global crossover hits, World Cup anthems and recent chart-topping duets, highlighting her versatility across genres including reggaeton, EDM, baile funk and rock-influenced pop.
The list features collaborations with artists such as Rihanna, Maluma, Karol G, Anitta and Freshlyground, alongside older tracks like "Ciega, Sordomuda" and Pharrell-produced cuts from her "She Wolf" era. Below are some of the entries mentioned:
– 20. "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" ft Freshlyground (2010) – her most celebrated World Cup anthem – 19. "Choka Choka" with Anitta (2026) – a baile funk/hip-hop fusion – 18. "Las de la Intuición" (2005) – 17. "TQG" with Karol G (2023) – originally written by Karol G, later turned into a duet – 16. "Chantaje" ft Maluma (2016) – 15. "Can't Remember to Forget You" ft Rihanna (2014) – 14. "Ciega, Sordomuda" (1998) – 13. "Did It Again" (2009), produced with Pharrell
In short
- The Guardian ranks Shakira's 20 best songs ahead of her World Cup final performance
- List spans 1990s hits to 2026 collaborations with Anitta
- Includes duets with Rihanna, Maluma, Karol G and Freshlyground
Explained simply
Shakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter who became one of the world's biggest music stars by blending Latin pop, reggaeton and other genres. She first rose to prominence in the 1990s and achieved major international success from the 2000s onwards, becoming known for catchy melodies, energetic performances and collaborations with other major artists. Her influence spans multiple continents and musical styles, making her one of the most recognisable artists of her generation.
Throughout a career spanning over three decades, Shakira has released numerous hit songs across different musical styles and eras. She is perhaps best known internationally for the 2010 World Cup anthem "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", but her catalogue also includes many other successful songs and collaborations with major international artists. This breadth of work across different periods, genres and styles makes her body of work substantial and varied, which explains why a ranked retrospective of her best songs would be of interest to both new listeners and longtime fans.
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