France's captain is in a bitter war of words with Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, and the dispute has culminated just days before Les Bleus' FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Morocco.
The controversy started after France beat Paraguay 1-0 earlier in the tournament. Amarilla alleged Mbappé showed disrespect to Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill by refusing to shake his hand after the final whistle and shouting at him.
Tensions only grew when Mbappé said Amarilla was a “despicable woman” that was “unworthy of her office.” The senator launched a blistering speech in Paraguay’s Senate in which she hit the French superstar once more.
"When Orlando Gill, a young player who was probably playing in his first World Cup and in Europe for the first time, extended his hand with all the humility of a Paraguayan, this son of a b**** refused to shake it and shouted in his face," Amarilla said.
She said Mbappé’s actions did not reflect the values of France.
"That is not French. A Frenchman would never have done that," she said.
Amarilla also alleged that Paraguayan players were subjected to racist abuse after the defeat, but no official investigation has confirmed those claims.
The senator went on to say that she refused to let Mbappé define what France stands for.
"France is Rousseau, Descartes, Montesquieu, Victor Hugo, Simone de Beauvoir, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. I refuse to reduce that great nation and its extraordinary cultural, artistic and democratic legacy to Mbappé," she said.
Earlier, Amarilla had posted an open letter on social media warning the France forward not to "mess with Paraguayans." She even referenced Brazilian football ace Ronaldinho, who was arrested in Paraguay in 2020 on passport-related charges, claiming she could pursue legal action if Mbappé failed to apologize.
"We already had Ronaldinho jailed here. Don't underestimate me, Mbappé. I can sue you for gender violence and political violence against women. He should apologize because I still have legal grounds," she wrote.
And despite the growing controversy, France head coach Didier Deschamps insists none of it has affected his star player.
Before Saturday’s quarter-final against Morocco, Deschamps made it clear that Mbappé remains fully focused on football.
"Kylian is in a good place mentally. He’s ready for tomorrow," the France boss said.
With a place in the World Cup quarterfinals on the line, France will hope the conversation will soon return to the pitch. Mbappé has been one of the best performers of the tournament and Les Bleus will rely on their talisman once more to lead them to another big run. Despite off-field controversy, France will not be thinking of Morocco and will be focused on Morocco and getting to another World Cup final.
