Mbappé Condemns Paraguayan Senator’s Racist Attack
France captain Kylian Mbappé has issued a forceful public condemnation of Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla, accusing her of brazen racism and vowing never to let such hatred spread unchecked.
The statement came on yesterday after Amarilla posted a series of racist remarks targeting Mbappé’s Cameroonian heritage following France’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match, played on 4 July in Philadelphia, was decided by a 70th-minute penalty converted by Mbappé after a VAR review for a foul on substitute Désiré Doué. The goal marked his seventh of the tournament, tying him with Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings, and brought his career World Cup tally to 19.
Post-match tension escalated when Mbappé declined to shake hands with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who responded by throwing the ball at him. Hours later, Senator Amarilla, a member of Paraguay’s opposition PLRA party, published a series of posts on X containing racist and dehumanising language directed at Mbappé.
She described him as a “colonized Cameroonian desperately trying to pass himself off as French” and labelled him “resentful, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly.” In another post she wrote that Mbappé “hasn’t even learned to write” and suggested he had “sucked on coconuts” instead of breast milk, while claiming the French players had been “nervous and scared to death” and won only through luck. She also suggested Paraguayan players should have slapped Mbappé after the final whistle.
Mbappé responded directly yesterday with a strongly worded statement addressed to the senator, accompanied by her photograph. In the original French, he wrote: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, Vous êtes une femme méprisable et indigne de sa fonction. Vous ne représentez pas le Paraguay… Je ne laisserai jamais aux gens comme elle, la liberté de laisser propager leur haine et leur racisme à travers le monde.”
The English translation reads: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay… I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
The French Football Federation responded swiftly the same day, issuing an official statement that described Amarilla’s remarks as “totally abject and unacceptable” and “criminal and reprehensible.” The federation announced it would file a report with the public prosecutor’s office to initiate judicial proceedings and expressed full support for Mbappé, his teammates and all victims of such abuse.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said she was “scandalized” by the “abject” and racist comments. The Paraguayan government quickly distanced itself from the senator.
In a communiqué released yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it deplored and rejected Amarilla’s statements as contrary to the values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity.
The government stressed that the comments reflected only her individual responsibility and in no way represented the position of the Paraguayan state or its people. It also reaffirmed Paraguay’s commitment to human rights and the fight against racism, while expressing solidarity with those affected and respect for the French people.
France will face Morocco in the quarterfinals later this week as it seeks to improve on its 2022 runner-up finish.
