Mbappe calls Paraguayan senator 'despicable' after racist tirade following France's World Cup win

Kylian Mbappe scored the only goal as France defeated Paraguay 1-0 to reach the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, but the result was quickly overshadowed by a racist social media tirade from Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla — and a sharp, public response from the France forward.

Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical party, described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French” and called him a “brute who had not learned to write.” Mbappe responded directly on social media, addressing her by name.

“You are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay,” Mbappe wrote. “Through your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished. [You are] 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 (FFF) backed Mbappe swiftly and in unequivocal terms, describing Amarilla’s remarks as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable” and announcing its intention to pursue legal action. “These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere,” the FFF said in a statement, adding that it was referring the matter to the public prosecutor’s office.

Amarilla responded to the threat of prosecution at a press conference, warning the FFF not to “underestimate me” and suggesting she could file counter-charges against the federation.

On the pitch, Mbappe’s penalty — his 19th career World Cup goal — proved the difference between the two sides. He might have added a 20th had Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill not produced an astonishing double save to deny him earlier in the match. France now advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco.