Kylian Mbappé has strongly criticised Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla after she reportedly posted racist remarks about him following France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay in the World Cup last 16. The row began after a tense knockout match in Philadelphia, where Mbappé scored the decisive penalty and France advanced to a quarter-final against Morocco.
According to reports from AS, Bild and Sportskeeda, Amarilla used offensive language about Mbappé’s appearance, background and identity after Paraguay’s elimination.
What racist comments did Celeste Amarilla reportedly make?
Reports said Amarilla described Mbappé with personal insults including “ugly” and “brutish,” and also used remarks widely criticised as racist and xenophobic. One reported comment referred to him as a “colonized Cameroonian, pretending to be French.” Another reported phrase said he had “sucked coconuts instead of breast milk.”
The comments were viewed as racist because they appeared to target Mbappé’s Black identity, African family background and French nationality rather than simply criticising his football behaviour. Mbappé was born in France and represents the French national team.
What Mbappé wrote in his tweet
Mbappé responded directly on X, naming Amarilla and saying she did not represent Paraguay. In the translated tweet shown on X, he wrote:
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.
The post stood out because Mbappé separated Paraguay’s players and supporters from Amarilla’s remarks. He praised the country’s World Cup effort while accusing the senator of damaging Paraguay’s image through racism.
Who is Celeste Amarilla?
Celeste Amarilla is a Paraguayan lawyer and politician. AS reported that she was born in 1964 in San Juan Bautista and has served as a national senator since 2023 for the Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico. She was previously a deputy between 2018 and 2023.
The controversy has drawn attention because the comments were not made by an anonymous fan account, but by a sitting senator. That political position is one reason Mbappé’s response was so direct.
Why the row started after France vs Paraguay
The match itself was physical and tense. France needed a second-half Mbappé penalty to beat Paraguay 1-0, with reports describing a hard-fought contest in difficult conditions. The New Indian Express reported that Paraguay worked hard to frustrate France before Mbappé’s penalty settled the last-16 tie.
After the final whistle, attention moved to Mbappé’s conduct, including criticism over a reported post-match exchange involving Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill. That criticism then escalated online, with Amarilla’s reported posts turning the story into a racism controversy.
Why Mbappé’s response matters
Footballers are often criticised after major matches, especially in knockout games. But Mbappé’s response made clear that criticism of performance or attitude is different from racist abuse. His tweet framed the issue as a matter of dignity, public responsibility and respect for Paraguay’s own players.
The strongest angle in this story is that Mbappé did not attack Paraguay as a country. He said Paraguay had shown passion and honour, while arguing that Amarilla’s comments had shifted attention away from the team’s historic effort.
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What happens next?
The row is likely to continue if Paraguayan political figures, football officials or anti-racism groups respond publicly. For France, the focus now moves to the quarter-final against Morocco. For Paraguay, the controversy has complicated what had otherwise been a proud World Cup run.
Mbappé’s message was clear: disappointment after a football defeat can explain anger, but it cannot excuse racist language.
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