World Cup: Mbappe Slams Paraguayan Senator Over Racist Remarks

Kylian Mbappé has launched a scathing attack on Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla after she made racist comments on social media following France’s victory over Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After France knocked out Paraguay in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Amarilla, a member of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, took to her 𝕏 account and aimed racist abuse at Mbappe, saying the Real Madrid star was a “colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French, embittered, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly.” She also accused the footballer of being “scared to death” during the game that France won 1-0 on Saturday.

Mbappe responded forcefully, saying: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.

“You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.

“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

The French Football Federation confirmed it will file criminal charges over Amarilla’s comments, describing them as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.

In a statement, the federation said: “These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to legal proceedings.

“These remarks disgrace those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”

Meanwhile, Paraguay’s foreign ministry has distanced the country from Amarilla’s comments.

The ministry said in a statement: “The remarks made by Senator Celeste Amarilla, directed at the captain of the French national team, Kylian Mbappe, are contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity, which our country promotes.

“They in no way represent the position of the government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people.”

Naija News reports that Mbappe scored the winning penalty in Saturday’s last-16 clash to send France into a World Cup quarter-final against Morocco in Boston on Thursday. The forward has now scored seven goals at the tournament, leaving him level with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland as the competition’s joint leading scorer.

French President Emmanuel Macron also backed Mbappe, writing: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support. When words defile, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity.”

The controversy comes days after former Paraguay goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert claimed his country would be facing “a squad from Africa” before the match.

Macron’s remarks were condemned by FFF president Philippe Diallo, who said: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by Jose Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football.

“If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.”

While Paraguay are out of the competition, France will continue their journey in the World Cup campaign against Morocco at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 9.