On song

Camila Cabello’s performance prior to the Champions League final was the culmination of a lifelong ambition

WORDS Dan Poole | INTERVIEW Paul Nixon

At the relatively tender age of 25, Camila Cabello has already become a top scorer in her particular field of expertise: a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the bestselling girl groups of all time; a successful subsequent solo career that’s included multi-platinum sales and Grammy nominations; and the lead role in a Hollywood movie. 

Camila Cabello during her performance at the Stade de France

Now, by having headlined the 2022 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony, presented by Pepsi, the Cinderella star has been able to go to the ball with no need of a fairy godmother. “I’ve always wanted to go to a soccer game – it is something I’ve wanted to cross off my bucket list,” she says. “What I love about soccer fans is the amount of joy and passion, that energy you feel.”

At the relatively tender age of 25, Camila Cabello has already become a top scorer in her particular field of expertise: a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the bestselling girl groups of all time; a successful subsequent solo career that’s included multi-platinum sales and Grammy nominations; and the lead role in a Hollywood movie. 

Camila Cabello during her performance at the Stade de France

Now, by having headlined the 2022 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony, presented by Pepsi, the Cinderella star has been able to go to the ball with no need of a fairy godmother. “I’ve always wanted to go to a soccer game – it is something I’ve wanted to cross off my bucket list,” she says. “What I love about soccer fans is the amount of joy and passion, that energy you feel.”

Read the full story
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Born in Havana to a Cuban mother, Cabello became an American citizen in 2008 – but it’s her father she thanks for her interest in football. “I’m Latin, so soccer is a big part of our culture. And my dad is Mexican, so I grew up rooting for Mexico whenever they would play. There have been a few times that I have tried to go to games but with my schedule, it just hasn’t been able to happen.”

That she managed to get on the pitch for her inaugural live game is impressive, but what if she’d been finding the back of the net rather than holding a microphone? “I would go absolutely insane,” she says. “I would shout, ‘Goal!’ I would want to have all my team-mates hug me and jump on me. That’s what I’d want to do.”

Cabello’s signature tune is about her hometown: Havana reached number one in 23 different countries. Don’t go Yet, Señorita and Bam Bam (featuring Ipswich Town fan Ed Sheeran) have also been massive sellers, and it’s that hat-trick of hits that featured in her medley in the Stade de France. “I really do love soccer,” she says. “I love the energy of the sport – and I think we inject that same joy and passion into our performances.”

At the relatively tender age of 25, Camila Cabello has already become a top scorer in her particular field of expertise: a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the bestselling girl groups of all time; a successful subsequent solo career that’s included multi-platinum sales and Grammy nominations; and the lead role in a Hollywood movie. 

Camila Cabello during her performance at the Stade de France

Now, by having headlined the 2022 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony, presented by Pepsi, the Cinderella star has been able to go to the ball with no need of a fairy godmother. “I’ve always wanted to go to a soccer game – it is something I’ve wanted to cross off my bucket list,” she says. “What I love about soccer fans is the amount of joy and passion, that energy you feel.”

On song

Camila Cabello’s performance prior to the Champions League final was the culmination of a lifelong ambition

WORDS Dan Poole | INTERVIEW Paul Nixon

Text Link

At the relatively tender age of 25, Camila Cabello has already become a top scorer in her particular field of expertise: a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the bestselling girl groups of all time; a successful subsequent solo career that’s included multi-platinum sales and Grammy nominations; and the lead role in a Hollywood movie. 

Camila Cabello during her performance at the Stade de France

Now, by having headlined the 2022 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony, presented by Pepsi, the Cinderella star has been able to go to the ball with no need of a fairy godmother. “I’ve always wanted to go to a soccer game – it is something I’ve wanted to cross off my bucket list,” she says. “What I love about soccer fans is the amount of joy and passion, that energy you feel.”

At the relatively tender age of 25, Camila Cabello has already become a top scorer in her particular field of expertise: a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the bestselling girl groups of all time; a successful subsequent solo career that’s included multi-platinum sales and Grammy nominations; and the lead role in a Hollywood movie. 

Camila Cabello during her performance at the Stade de France

Now, by having headlined the 2022 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony, presented by Pepsi, the Cinderella star has been able to go to the ball with no need of a fairy godmother. “I’ve always wanted to go to a soccer game – it is something I’ve wanted to cross off my bucket list,” she says. “What I love about soccer fans is the amount of joy and passion, that energy you feel.”

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

Born in Havana to a Cuban mother, Cabello became an American citizen in 2008 – but it’s her father she thanks for her interest in football. “I’m Latin, so soccer is a big part of our culture. And my dad is Mexican, so I grew up rooting for Mexico whenever they would play. There have been a few times that I have tried to go to games but with my schedule, it just hasn’t been able to happen.”

That she managed to get on the pitch for her inaugural live game is impressive, but what if she’d been finding the back of the net rather than holding a microphone? “I would go absolutely insane,” she says. “I would shout, ‘Goal!’ I would want to have all my team-mates hug me and jump on me. That’s what I’d want to do.”

Cabello’s signature tune is about her hometown: Havana reached number one in 23 different countries. Don’t go Yet, Señorita and Bam Bam (featuring Ipswich Town fan Ed Sheeran) have also been massive sellers, and it’s that hat-trick of hits that featured in her medley in the Stade de France. “I really do love soccer,” she says. “I love the energy of the sport – and I think we inject that same joy and passion into our performances.”

At the relatively tender age of 25, Camila Cabello has already become a top scorer in her particular field of expertise: a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the bestselling girl groups of all time; a successful subsequent solo career that’s included multi-platinum sales and Grammy nominations; and the lead role in a Hollywood movie. 

Camila Cabello during her performance at the Stade de France

Now, by having headlined the 2022 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony, presented by Pepsi, the Cinderella star has been able to go to the ball with no need of a fairy godmother. “I’ve always wanted to go to a soccer game – it is something I’ve wanted to cross off my bucket list,” she says. “What I love about soccer fans is the amount of joy and passion, that energy you feel.”

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