France captain Kylian Mbappe has issued a scathing response to Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla following a series of vile racist attacks directed at the forward. The Real Madrid star was targeted by the politician on social media after Les Bleus eliminated Paraguay from the 2026 World Cup in a heated last-16 encounter.

The meteoric rise of young stars like Lamine Yamal has reignited the debate about who could inherit the throne left by the two greatest legends of modern football. However, former player Tonito warns that reaching the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo requires a consistency that few in history have managed to demonstrate over decades.

Jamie Carragher believes Harry Kane deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or based on his performances over the past year. However, the former Liverpool defender argues that the award is likely to go to Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe if Argentina or France lift the World Cup, leaving England’s captain at a disadvantage.

Kylian Mbappe refused to be distracted after a Paraguay player attempted to scuff the penalty spot before his decisive spot-kick. The France star converted with confidence, drew level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and celebrated in front of his opponents as Les Bleus secured their place in the quarter-finals.

Kylian Mbappe has hit back at Paraguay’s physical approach, insisting that France are more than happy to "get their hands dirty" after securing a clinical 1-0 victory in the World Cup round of 16. The Real Madrid-bound superstar dismissed the South Americans' provocations with a smile before dispatching the decisive second-half penalty to set up a quarter-final date with Morocco.