France captain Kylian Mbappé has responded to racist remarks made by a Paraguayan senator following Les Bleus’ 1-0 victory on Saturday in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16.
Mbappé scored the match’s lone goal on a penalty kick in the 70th minute, advancing France to the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup. Individually, Mbappé recorded his seventh goal of the tournament, putting him ahead of Argentina‘s Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race thanks to his two assists.
On Monday, Paraguayan senator Céleste Amarilla wrote a post on X using highly racist language and imagery to belittle Mbappé’s education and upbringing. She called him “a brute” and accused him of “pretending to be French.”
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Amarilla, who has held office since 2023, also said that Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill “should’ve given him the middle finger.”
Mbappé wrote his own social media post on Monday to respond:
“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 honor 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.”
Additionally, the French Football Federation issued a statement condemning Amarilla’s remarks, calling them “criminal and reprehensible” insults that warrant prosecution.
“The racist remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting Kylian Mbappé are utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. How can anyone make such statements? These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is filing a report with the prosecutor’s office for the purpose of judicial action.
“The Federation extends its full support to its captain, its players, and more generally to all victims of such odious remarks. Now more than ever, the FFF is committed to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination. These remarks dishonor those who make them and those who spread them. The players of the France National Team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”
Neither the Paraguayan Football Association nor FIFA has yet issued official statements in regards to Amarilla’s comments.
France will next face Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals on Thursday. Their match is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
