Burna Boy’s ‘Dai Dai’ Makes History, Overtakes ‘Waka Waka’ as Highest-Charting World Cup Song

Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has added another milestone to his illustrious career after his collaborative World Cup anthem, "Dai Dai," with Colombian singer Shakira, became the highest-charting FIFA World Cup song in history.

The record-breaking achievement comes after "Dai Dai" climbed 25 places on this week's Billboard Hot 100, reaching a new peak of No. 17. The feat sees the song surpass Shakira and Freshlyground's iconic "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," which had long held the distinction as the highest-charting World Cup anthem.

The success of "Dai Dai" extends beyond the United States. The song also surged to No. 3 on the Canadian Hot 100 and is currently competing for the top spot on the UK Official Singles Chart, highlighting its global appeal.

In another significant development, Billboard has officially discontinued the World Digital Song Sales chart, with its final edition published on June 27, 2026.

The chart had served as a key platform for tracking the commercial success of music from regions including Nigeria, Asia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. Over the years, several Nigerian stars—including Wizkid, Mr Eazi, and Rema—topped the chart, reflecting the growing global influence of Afrobeats and other international sounds.

Burna Boy's latest achievement further cements his status as one of Africa's most successful musical exports, while reinforcing the worldwide popularity of Nigerian music.

Opinion: Burna Boy Is Taking Nigerian Music to New Heights

"Dai Dai" surpassing "Waka Waka" is more than just another chart statistic—it reflects the continued rise of African music on the global stage. While World Cup songs are designed to unite football fans, only a few achieve lasting commercial success, making Burna Boy and Shakira's accomplishment particularly remarkable.

For Burna Boy, this milestone is another testament to his consistency and ability to create music that resonates with audiences across different cultures and continents. Sharing a record with an artist of Shakira's stature also highlights how African musicians are increasingly becoming central figures in major global collaborations.

The discontinuation of Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart marks the end of an important chapter for international music. However, the success of artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, and Mr Eazi demonstrates that African music no longer needs niche charts to prove its impact. Today, Nigerian artists are competing directly on mainstream global charts and consistently setting new records.

As Afrobeats continues to expand its international footprint, achievements like this reinforce Nigeria's position as one of the world's leading music powerhouses.