France captain Kylian Mbappé has issued a fierce public condemnation of Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, labeling her a “despicable woman” who is “unworthy” of her position in Congress following a barrage of racist social media posts.
The controversy erupted after France defeated Paraguay 1–0 in a tense FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash in Philadelphia, where Mbappé scored the decisive winning penalty. In the aftermath, Amarilla published a tirade on X mocking the forward’s Cameroonian heritage, appearance, and education.
Responding on Monday, Mbappé accused the senator of overshadowing her own team’s historic tournament run with her “brazen racism.” The fallout has reached diplomatic levels, with the Paraguayan government officially distancing itself from Amarilla’s comments and condemning them. Meanwhile, the French Football Federation (FFF) has firmly denounced the “utterly abhorrent” remarks and filed a formal complaint with the prosecutor’s office to pursue legal action.