FIFA World Cup: Kylian Mbappe labels Paraguayan senator 'despicable' after racist posts

Amarilla, a member of Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, used X to mock Mbappe's origins and education after France eliminated Paraguay in the last 16. Mbappe described the senator as "despicable" and said she was unworthy of holding public office.

"Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position," Mbappe responded on X.

"You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

"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, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.

"I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world."

The French Football Federation (FFF) has since announced it will file criminal charges over Amarilla's posts.

"These remarks ​are criminal and reprehensible. ​They must be prosecuted here ​as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the ​public prosecutor's office ‌with a ​view to legal ​proceedings," the FFF stated.

"These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted."

Mbappe scored the decisive second-half penalty in Saturday's knockout victory, sending France into a World Cup quarter-final against Morocco in Boston on Thursday.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed another prolific campaign, scoring seven goals at this year's tournament. His tally leaves him level at the top of the Golden Boot standings with Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Norway striker Erling Haaland.