France captain Kylian Mbappé called Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla 'despicable' and 'racist' after she referred to him as a 'colonised Cameroonian' on social media following France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. The French Football Federation also condemned the remarks.
France defeated Paraguay in a contentious World Cup Round of 16 match in Philadelphia, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the decisive penalty. The match was marked by physical play and controversial tactics from Paraguay that drew widespread criticism from commentators.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage began with star performances from football's biggest names: Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0, Kylian Mbappé netted twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, and Erling Haaland scored two goals on his World Cup debut as Norway beat Iraq 4-1.
