A war of words has broken out away from the pitch at the FIFA World Cup, with France captain Kylian Mbappé and Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla locked in a public dispute on social media following France's victory over Paraguay in the Round of 32.
The controversy began after Amarilla described Mbappé as a "colonised Cameroonian" who was "pretending hard to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant, and ugly" after France edged Paraguay 1-0 to secure a place in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an open letter posted on X, the Paraguayan senator demanded that Mbappé apologise for his response to her earlier remarks and warned that she could pursue legal action. She stressed that her criticism was directed solely at the French forward and not at France or its national football team, while highlighting her long-standing personal connection with the country.
"The problem is between you and me. I've never said anything against France; on the contrary, I'm with you. I studied at a French school from the age of two until I was seventeen, and I finished my schooling there. I am who I am thanks to the Collège de l'Inmaculee Concepcion, and I am here because of the education it gave me. We sang La Marseillaise and honored its flag with our own. I speak French and I love visiting France. Last Christmas, I spent it with my family in Courchevel, and we welcomed the New Year in Saint-Tropez. It has nothing to do with France; the problem is with you," Amarilla wrote.
She went on to accuse Mbappé of showing arrogance both before and during France's meeting with Paraguay, a match that drew attention for a series of robust challenges and confrontations between players. Amarilla also referred to Mbappé's refusal to shake hands with Paraguay's goalkeeper after the final whistle.
"Your arrogance and contempt have been getting on my nerves since before the match, when you said, 'If we have to get our hands dirty, let's get dirty.' We're not stupid; we understand perfectly well that the dirty stuff was the Paraguayan team, and that we all are the Paraguayan team. Then you said they were going to remove the makeup. We understand that too, that you look so elegant with makeup, and we, poor and rough as we are, don't even know what it is. All of Paraguay fell silent, myself included. We took it," she added.
Continuing her criticism, Amarilla wrote in the letter, "During the match, your arrogant behavior was evident, your contempt for each player, as if they were disgusting, and without even covering your mouth, when you said, 'La concha de tu madre,' an extremely aggressive phrase in Latin America, and you know it."
She also alleged that Mbappé failed to show basic sporting respect after the match had ended.
"And finally, you disregarded our goalkeeper's health. That's simply unacceptable. Respect between rivals after a match is almost sacred, in war as in peace, in defeat as in victory, and you didn't shake his hand and you shouted your victory in his face--that's simply unacceptable. You displayed your contempt, your arrogance, and your poor manners in a single second. It hurt me, it hurt my entire country, and deeply. France should hold you accountable, because it's a nation of knights, with centuries of history and expertise. France should hold you accountable for your behavior," the post added.
Amarilla said she later removed her original social media post after reflecting on the language she had used.
"My posts were filled with boiling blood, that mixed-race blood, that beautiful blend of Indigenous blood with the Spanish blood that flows in my veins. That's what I wrote about today's posts when you mocked those immense Paraguayan players who fought on equal terms until the end of the match. However, right away, I regretted mistreating you with the same insults I receive, because I too am despised for being mixed-race and Latina, called dirty. I regretted it and deleted the post. I realized I was repeating patterns I hate, and I deleted it. I understand that it bothered you, because it is humiliating," she said.
The senator also called on Mbappé to withdraw his comments about her and issue an apology.
"Now, I demand that you also retract your statement and apologize to me. I, too, will not tolerate your violence. You don't know me, you have no idea who I am, and you have no right to say that I am a despicable woman, unworthy of the office I hold. I am a Senator of the Paraguayan Nation, elected by the people. Before that, I was a National Deputy, also elected by the people. Thousands of Paraguayans voted for me and consider me their voice. My primary commitment is to be the voice of the Paraguayan people, to speak out against their silence, and to defend my country with my life. That is what is expected of me," Amarilla wrote.
She continued, "I represent my country because I was elected in free elections. I was freely elected to make its laws and to be its voice. You have no idea what it means to be elected to defend your country, to be the voice of the people. I was elected National Senator; I don't know if you realize the importance of my position."
Ending the letter, Amarilla accused the France captain of political and gender-based violence and warned that she could seek legal recourse if he did not apologise.
"Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable when you don't even know me?! Pure and simple gender violence! Political violence against a woman who got where she is with the popular vote of her people. You despise me precisely because of my gender; you offend me precisely because I am a woman. You are not attacking my skin color, my preferences, my status as a woman, or my political position. Retract your statement with me, honor your French citizenship, and apologize, or I may take legal action for gender violence," Amarilla concluded.
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