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French World Cup superstar Kylian Mbappé was involved in a violent post-match incident with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill on Saturday.
Mbappé, who scored from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, riled up the crowd at Philadelphia Stadium after France’s 1-0 victory in the round of 16. As he shouted towards the crowd, he stepped in front of Gill who reached out to shake his hand and then threw him the ball.
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Frenchman Kylian Mbappé (10 years old) celebrates his team’s victory at the end of the round of 16 of the Football World Cup between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, Saturday July 4, 2026. (Martin Meissner/AP)
Gill said he was going to shake Mbappé’s hand but lost his cool.
“I tried to shake his hand, but when he didn’t pay attention to me, I got angry,” Gill said.
It was the end of a physical match between the two teams. Gill said he thought his teammates handled their plan of attack well.
Paraguayan midfielder Andrés Cubas caught Mbappé in the attacking third, sparking a confrontation between the players in the 35th minute. Later in the first half, Matias Galarza made contact with Mbappé without the ball. Juan José Cáceras kicked Mbappé in the right shin in the 77th minute.
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France’s Kylian Mbappe, left, and Paraguay’s Juan José Caceres brawl during a World Cup round of 16 match in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Paraguay did not receive a yellow card for any of the fouls. France were the only one of the two teams to receive yellow cards during the match – all three of them.
“We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappé said. “We can get our hands dirty, too. We know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. I guess they thought we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even in that kind of game, we were better than them.”
French coach Didier Deschamps highlighted Paraguay’s physique.
Kylian Mbappé celebrates France’s victory as Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill holds the ball after the final whistle of a World Cup round of 16 match in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)
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“They pull out every trap in the book,” he said. “It’s not the kind of football that attracts people to the stadium. Each team played their way. But there were insults from the other bench which I could do without.”
