J-Lo and Shakira's Super Bowl halftime show was huge - here are the best moments

As the players left the field for half-time during the 2020 Super Bowl, it was time for the real show to begin.

The NFL's big game is the only sporting event in the world where the break is anticipated every bit as much as the game itself, and this year certainly lived up to the billing.

Pop megastars Shakira and Jennifer Lopez joined forces for an energising, inspiring set that combined timely political statements with pure pop entertainment.

Here are the five big talking points from the dazzling show.

Pop Icons

Few artists alive today have back-catalogues as packed with true pop hits as Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.

They used the half-time break to hurtle through decades of iconic tracks like “Wherever, Whenever”, “Jenny From The Block” and “Hips Don't Lie”, each delivered in the high-energy style fans have come to expect from them.

The whole night became a rapid-fire reminder of what has made them two of modern music's greatest entertainers.

By the time they came together for a version of Shakira's joyful 2010 World Cup anthem “Waka Waka”, you'd be forgiven for forgetting that there was a football game being played at all.

Shakira tagged in Bad Bunny to help take things up a notch. Picture: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Latin Pride

As well as being simply two of the biggest pop stars of the last few decades, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez have acted as ambassadors of Latin culture. As the first Latin artists to headline the Super Bowl show, they were also going to pay homage to their roots.

After dazzling the crowd with a string of her past hits, Shakira brought out Puerto Rican rap sensation Bad Bunny to cover Cardi B's “I Like it” before the two teamed up for a rendition of one of Shakira's own Spanish-language jams - “Chantaje.”

J-Lo then pulled out a guest star of her own with reggaeton superstar J Balvin accompanying her for “Mi Gente” - an anthem for Latin unity and pride.

Puerto Rico

In such divisive times, it isn't enough to just pay lip service to the musical legacy of a culture that is constantly under fire.

Undaunted by the challenge, Jennifer Lopez made a proud stand alongside Latin Americans – draping herself in the Puerto Rico flag in a bold show of support.

Puerto Rico – a US territory but not a State, often leaving it at the mercy of others in regards to political matters – has been rocked by earthquakes and economic crisis in recent years, while pleas for help have often fallen on deaf ears or been met by insulting tweets.

Jennifer Lopez stood with pride under the Puerto Rico flag. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Immigration Crisis

Unafraid to invite controversy, the duo also used their spotlight to call attention to the immigration crisis which provoked outrage across America.

The stage darkened to reveal a series of luminescent cages, each with a child inside, calling to mind the horrifying images which have emerged of detainment centres.

This shocking visual was paired with a snippet of “Born in the USA” - a song often mistaken for a patriotic anthem but which is actually filled with disillusionment and cynicism.

At a time when even Latin Americans who were born in the US find themselves in danger, it made for a powerful gesture.

The skills J-Lo honed for Hustlers helped her wow the crowd during the halftime show. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Hustlers

Jennifer Lopez delivered one of 2019's most electrifying on-screen performances with her star turn as an exotic dancer in Hustlers.

While awards season has once again left film fans fuming by overlooking J-Lo's acting chops, she was able to put the pole-dancing skills she honed for the role to use as part of the half-time show.

After stripping down to a sparkling silver bodysuit, she launched into a series of gravity-defying pole tracks that stunned the crowd.

J-Lo Junior

Perhaps the most talked-about moment of the entire show was when Jennifer Lopez's 11-year-old daughter, Emme, joined her on the stage.

With a fearlessness that must have done her mother proud, she belted out the opening to “Let's Get Loud” alongside a chorus of other young girls.

The show put the spotlight on two bold, brilliant women who have inspired countless millions, and they used the opportunity to continue doing so – creating a platform for others to raise their voices and offering them the encouragement to speak up and get loud.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, the I.

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