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Celeste Amarilla: "France is too big to be reduced to Mbappé"
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Celeste Amarilla: "France is too big to be reduced to Mbappé"

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla defended her criticism of Kylian Mbappé, stating her intention was to defend national players, not attack France.
  • Amarilla expressed surprise at the public support she received and criticized the Paraguayan government's official response to the controversy.
  • She argued that diplomatic repercussions are individual matters and that France is larger than any single player.

Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has doubled down on her controversial remarks about French footballer Kylian Mbappé, asserting that her comments were aimed at defending her nation's players, not at insulting France. The senator stated that she did not expect, nor necessarily deserve, the significant public backing she has since received following the diplomatic spat that emerged during the 2026 World Cup.

I didn't do it seeking a minute of fame. I already have fame here, all kinds of fame I have. I did it even without thinking and that's why I'm having the problems I'm having now.

— Celeste AmarillaExplaining her motivations behind the controversial statements.

Amarilla expressed surprise at the outpouring of support, suggesting it transcended political divides in Paraguay. She believes the Paraguayan people were waiting for someone to stand up for their national team, dismissing claims that her actions were a bid for notoriety. "I didn't do it seeking a minute of fame. I already have fame here, all kinds of fame I have. I did it even without thinking and that's why I'm having the problems I'm having now," she clarified.

The senator also criticized the Paraguayan government's decision to issue an official statement regarding the incident, calling it "absolutely unnecessary." She argued that the government's response unnecessarily signaled deference to France, especially since, in her view, France itself was not directly affected by her comments. Amarilla insisted that her remarks were directed specifically at Mbappé and did not mention France as a nation.

It was a demonstration of telling France 'yes, sir, yes, sir,' when France wasn't even affected.

— Celeste AmarillaCriticizing the Paraguayan government's official response.

Addressing concerns about potential diplomatic fallout and a resolution passed by Congress holding her personally responsible, Amarilla maintained that such actions were individual. "France cannot sue me for what I told a Frenchman," she stated. She concluded by reflecting on Mbappé's stature, suggesting he might not have even seen her post and that France's identity extends far beyond any single athlete, referencing historical figures like Voltaire and Rousseau.

France is not the France of Mbappé, France is the France of Voltaire, France is the France of Rousseau, France is too big to be reduced to Mbappé.

— Celeste AmarillaReflecting on the broader identity of France beyond its football star.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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