Kylian Mbappé, captain of the French national football team, has publicly condemned racist remarks made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla following France's round-of-16 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup. In a post on X, Mbappé called Amarilla a “despicable woman” who is “unworthy” of serving in Paraguay’s Congress, accusing her of overshadowing the achievements of the Paraguayan team with her “brazen racism.”
“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,” Mbappé wrote. “You do not represent Paraguay, the country that has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.”
Amarilla, a member of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, had directed racial slurs at Mbappé in a separate post, referring to him as a “colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French, embittered, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly,” and claiming he was “scared to death” during the match. The remarks sparked widespread outrage in France, with Sports Minister Marina Ferrari describing them as “abject, disgraceful and all the more unacceptable coming from a politician.”
Political and Institutional Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, with the Élysée Palace stating that “the President of the Republic stands with Kylian Mbappé and the French team in the face of the racist attacks directed at the Bleus' captain.” Macron has previously taken a strong stance on racial discrimination, including during his address at the Paris Congress where he condemned global human rights abuses.
The Paraguayan government issued a statement denouncing Amarilla’s comments as “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes,” adding that they do not represent the government or the people of Paraguay. Late Monday, Amarilla published an open letter in French and Spanish on social media, expressing regret for using “the same insults” she has received as a mixed-race person and stating she had deleted her original post. However, she also demanded an apology from Mbappé, accusing him of gender-based violence in his response and threatening legal action if he did not retract his statements.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino added his voice to the condemnation, writing on Instagram that “all of football and society stand in solidarity with the France captain — we need to fight racism and defeat it all together.” The incident has reignited debates about racism in football and the responsibility of public figures, especially in the context of major international tournaments like the World Cup.
Mbappé’s response has been widely praised across Europe, with many noting his willingness to confront racism directly. The episode also highlights the broader challenges of combating discrimination in sports, a topic that has seen increased attention in recent years, including France's nationwide protests demanding comprehensive laws against sexual violence and other forms of abuse.
