"France lost, goodbye Mbappé." That was Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla's parting shot after Spain knocked France out of the 2026 World Cup 2-0 in the semifinal on July 14 — and she made sure the whole internet saw her say it.
Amarilla, who sparked a global controversy weeks earlier with a string of racist attacks on Kylian Mbappé, returned to social media to revel in France's elimination. She posted a deadpan "Spain 2-0 France," then escalated from there. One repost declared — with zero self-awareness — that "Senator Celeste Amarilla psychologically destroyed the French national team and the entire French people." Another twisted the knife on Bastille Day itself: "Ciao France, and a 14 juillet... liberty, equality, fraternity... eliminated 😂."
It's crass. It's also, from a purely sporting standpoint, hard to fully dismiss — France were poor against Spain and the result was never really in doubt.
Spain were just better
Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th. France had Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, and Barcola — four attackers who'd frighten most defences on the planet — and still couldn't lay a glove on a composed Spanish backline. Mbappé threatened late. It wasn't enough. Spain booked their World Cup final spot with something to spare.
For anyone who had France priced as tournament favourites, that was a brutal afternoon. Les Bleus entered the competition with genuine trophy expectations and went out without seriously testing one of the tournament's best sides.
How the feud started
The bad blood traces back to July 4, when France beat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16, with Mbappé converting the decisive penalty. Amarilla's response was immediate and ugly. She called Mbappé a "colonized Cameroonian trying so hard to pretend to be French" and a "brute who had not learned to write," and suggested Paraguay's players should have physically assaulted him after the match.
Mbappé didn't let it slide. "Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position," he wrote. "You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition." French President Emmanuel Macron publicly backed him, with the Élysée Palace condemning the remarks directly.
The controversy reached presidential level. The senator faced widespread criticism. And then France lost to Spain, and Amarilla got exactly the last laugh she was looking for.
"France lost, goodbye Mbappé." That's how she closed it. And right now, there's no rebuttal available.
