Roy Keane left his fellow pundits in hysterics yesterday as he labelled the half-time show at the World Cup final as ‘anti-climactic’ – but said ‘it’s always nice to see Shakira’.
The Irishman, 54, prompted laughter from Gary Neville, Ian Wright and ITV presenter Mark Pougatch as he reflected on the entertainment at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Shakira, 49, flaunted her toned abs in a pink and yellow sequined bodysuit to perform her hit Dai Dai with Burna Boy.
The half-time show also featured performances from Madonna, Justin Bieber and the Muppets.
When asked about what he thought of it, Roy replied: ‘It was a bit of an anti-climax, but I think the people in the stadium probably enjoyed it more than us. But it’s always nice to see Shakira.’
Ian echoed Roy’s comments as he said: ‘I felt like maybe he should have been a little bit more upbeat and livened us up a bit. It felt a bit down.’
But Gary said: ‘I quite enjoyed it. Let’s hope the second half picks up and there’s loads of energy.’
Amused by Roy’s comment, one fan joked on X: ‘Roy Keane happy to see Shakira. Man of taste I see.’
Roy Keane was brutally honest about the half-time show at the World Cup final on Sunday night – but he did seem a big fan of Shakira
The sports pundit, 54, left the rest of the panel in hysterics when he branded the music extravaganza ‘anti-climactic’, but cheekily added: ‘It’s always nice to see Shakira’
Another wrote: ‘Roy Keane spoke for all of us in regards to Shakira. She has still got it.’
Two more also said: ‘Roy Keane was a big fan of Shakira’ and ‘ When Roy Keane approves of Shakira too. Those hips don’t lie.’
The futuristic segment began with Madonna, 67, singing Music, accompanied by Ronaldo Nazario and Ronaldinho who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002.
The toned music legend showed off her legs in stockings as she embraced the pair, before they drove her out into the stadium, and held hands.
Justin, 32, made a starkly different impact on the crowd as he stepped out with nothing but a guitar to sing a World Cup themed version of his song, Everything Hallelujah.
The star looked relaxed as he casually walked onto the pitch before belting out his hit track, adding the final line, ‘it’s the World Cup, Hallelujah’.
K-pop sensations BTS regaled the crowd with Dynamite.
Spain went on to be crowned champions after Ferran Torres scored the winning goal against Argentina during extra time.
Amused by the Roy’s comment, fans joked on X: ‘Roy Keane happy to see Shakira. Man of taste I see’ and ‘Roy Keane spoke for all of us in regards to Shakira. She has still got it.’
The singer flaunted her toned abs in a pink and yellow sequined bodysuit to perform her hit Dai Dai with Burna Boy
Wayne Rooney has savaged the 2026 World Cup final halftime show as he described the performance as ‘c**p’ and said the ‘best part was when it ended’ live on BBC
The show delivered a spectacular mix of music, nostalgia and global star power, with the likes of Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and the Muppets all performing under one roof
Spain were crowned the 2026 World Cup champions, after Ferran Torres scored the winning goal against Argentina during extra time
Wayne Rooney also amused fans when he joked that his favourite part of the show was ‘when it finished’.
‘To be honest, mine was when it finished I like a lot of those artists but to be honest I thought it was c**p,’ he told Gabby Logan.
The former England captain added: ‘I did honestly. It just didn’t get me going, I wanted the football to be back on. It was a bit flat. I like Burna Boy I like Shakira I like Bieber but that was too flat.’
Meanwhile Liam Gallagher said the show was ‘like a bad trip’, before adding: ‘It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge.’
Elsewhere, Sam Thompson shared his frustration on Instagram, writing: ‘Half time show… absolutely the last thing a football game of this magnitude needed. No one’s in the right headspace now, not even the fans.
‘Imagine the players watching Sesame Street whilst cramping up and needing to warm up again’.
Even Lorraine Kelly had something to say about The Muppets guest appearance as she penned: ‘Just seen ANIMAL on the drums during half-time – all is almost forgiven FIFA – but get on with the footie FFS’.
