Paraguayan senator sparks outrage with racist comments about Kylian Mbappé
Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla faces backlash after racist comments about Kylian Mbappé sparked outrage during the World Cup.
A fresh racism controversy has erupted at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla made offensive remarks targeting France star Kylian Mbappé following Paraguay’s elimination.
The comments, posted on social media after Paraguay’s Round of 16 defeat to France, have drawn widespread condemnation online, with many pointing out the move away from football and toward toxic political rhetoric.
What did Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla say?
Amarilla, a member of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted a message mocking Mbappé’s background, education, and identity in explicitly racist terms. She also appeared to encourage disrespectful gestures toward the player, claiming she engages in similar behavior in her role as a public official.
“This brute hasn’t even learned to write. Instead of breastmilk, he grew up sucking on coconuts, and the most educated creatures he ever heard were chimpanzees," she wrote.
Bruto no aprendió ni a escribir, en vez de leche materna chupaba cocos y lo más instruido que escucho eran chimpancés. Le hubieras mostrado el dedo Orlando Gill, yo lo hago en el senado y no pasa nada !!! https://t.co/9TAVQoGVsb
— Celeste Senadora (@CelesteSenadora) July 5, 2026
“You should’ve given him the middle finger, Orlando Gill (Paraguay GK). I do it in the senate and nothing happens,” she continued..
"A colonized Cameroonian, pretending to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant, and ugly. He was nervous and scared to death all game, like his whole team,“ she wrote in a separate post. ”They didn’t even manage to score a single goal, until they got lucky with a penalty. The only thing many of us blame the team for is not giving him a full-handed slap at the end of the game. I’m not even a football fan.”
Camerunés colonizado, fingiendo duro ser francés, resentido, rico nuevo, prepotente y feo. Estuvo nervioso y muerto de miedo todo el partido, como todo su equipo, no pudieron meter ni un gol, ganaron de ped…
— Celeste Senadora (@CelesteSenadora) July 5, 2026
Lo único que muchos reclamamos a la Albirroja es no haberle dado una… pic.twitter.com/DDjq5E9kHJ
The remarks quickly spread across platforms, triggering backlash from fans, journalists, and anti-racism advocates. Many pointed out that the language used echoed long-standing racist tropes directed at Black athletes, particularly those representing European nations with diverse backgrounds.
Reaction online has been swift and intense. Across X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and football forums, users have widely condemned the comments as “disgusting”, “embarrassing”, and “dangerous”.
Racism like this is disgusting!!
— Chosen People (@ChosenPeopleVIP) July 6, 2026
Mbappé cooks on the pitch, haters cry on the sidelines. Keep that trash out of football!
Some of the most upvoted responses have highlighted the contrast between Mbappé’s global stature and the nature of the attack. Others have pointed out the issue of public officials engaging in this kind of rhetoric.
this is just pure hatred and racism masked as football banter. absolutely embarrassing comment from a senator.
— Essence (@L_Yamal_1) July 6, 2026
However, the controversy has also exposed a darker side of online discourse. A smaller but vocal group of users appeared to defend or downplay the remarks, often shifting the conversation toward anti-immigration narratives.
“A colonized Cameroonian, pretending to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant, and ugly.” Only agree to this part.
— Arijit Sil (@ArijitSil) July 6, 2026
Other than that she didn’t need to say all of that, it’s disgraceful.
Some replies to the controversy have attempted to question Mbappé’s identity or nationality, a recurring theme in discussions around players of immigrant heritage representing European countries. These arguments, widely criticized by others, reflect tensions about what it means to represent a nation in modern football.
Critics have pushed back strongly against this line of thinking, noting that Mbappé, born in France and a World Cup winner, has long been a symbol of the country’s diversity and sporting excellence.
A recurring problem in the game
This latest incident is unfortunately just one of many racism-related controversies in international football. Governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA have repeatedly pledged to crack down on discriminatory behavior, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
The fact that the comments came from a sitting politician has only intensified scrutiny. Public figures are generally held to a higher standard, and many observers have called for formal consequences or at least an official response.
As of now, neither Mbappé nor the French Football Federation has publicly addressed the remarks. There has also been no official statement from Paraguay’s Liberal Party.
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