Kylian Mbappe Takes a Stand Against Racism After Controversial Remarks from Paraguayan Senator
Mbappe Responds to Racist Comments
In New York, Kylian Mbappe, the French football sensation, expressed his outrage on Monday towards Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla for her racist comments following Paraguay's defeat to France in the World Cup round of 16.
Mbappe labeled Amarilla as a "despicable woman" and stated she was "unworthy" of her position in Congress.
He criticized her for her reckless and racist remarks, which overshadowed the commendable efforts of the Paraguayan team during the tournament.
Madame Celeste Amarilla,
Vous êtes une femme méprisable et indigne de sa fonction.
Vous ne représentez pas le Paraguay, ce pays qui a transpiré la passion et l’honneur tout au long de la compétition. Par votre inconscience et votre racisme décomplexé, le monde entier a déjà… pic.twitter.com/EnYmgQXvPL— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 6, 2026
Amarilla's offensive remarks came after Mbappe scored the decisive penalty that led France to victory, where she mocked his background and appearance. France is set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Later that day, Amarilla posted an open letter on social media in both French and Spanish, stating her grievances were directed at Mbappe, not France itself. She expressed regret for her comments, which she claimed mirrored the insults she has faced as a mixed-race individual, and mentioned that she had removed her original post.
However, she also demanded an apology from Mbappe, accusing him of gender-based violence in his response and threatened legal action if he did not retract his statements.
The Paraguayan government condemned Amarilla's comments, asserting they contradict the values of respect and coexistence that the nation promotes, clarifying that her views do not reflect those of the government or the people.
The French Football Federation denounced Amarilla's statements as "utterly abhorrent" and indicated they would escalate the issue to legal authorities.
Support for Mbappe came from French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari, who emphasized that the senator's attack on Mbappe was an affront to the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity that France stands for.
Macron expressed his full support for Mbappe, framing his response as a goal against racism, while assistant coach Guy Stephan described Amarilla's remarks as "indignant, abject, and scandalous."
Prior to the match, former Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert referred to the French team as "a squad from Africa," prompting Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF, to criticize Chilavert for his disgraceful comments.