The match between Paraguay and France at the 2026 World Cup left not only intensity on the field, but also a controversial incident involving Kylian Mbappé and goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
After the match, the Paraguayan goalkeeper acknowledged in the mixed zone that he was involved in a tense moment with the French forward after throwing the ball at him during a celebration.
“I reached out to congratulate him, but since he ignored me I had a heated moment”, Gill explained, admitting that his reaction was impulsive amid the atmosphere of the match.
The goalkeeper, who plays for San Lorenzo, added that after the incident he managed to calm down and did not want to make too much of the clash, even congratulating the French team on qualifying.
However, his statements did not end there and opened a new point of debate.
Asked about the criticism of Paraguay’s physical style, the goalkeeper defended his national team’s way of playing, assuring that it is part of their competitive identity.
“This is football, if they’re not used to this, what can we do”, he said, adding that his team sought to impose physical presence throughout the match.
Gill also highlighted the team’s defensive approach, assuring that they managed to contain much of France’s attacking play, until a penalty ended up tipping the balance.
“We were holding them off pretty well… if it hadn’t been for that penalty, the story would have been different”, the goalkeeper said, who despite the elimination was one of the standout performers for the South American side.
The episode has generated divided opinions on social media: some see it as part of the intensity of football, while others believe that those kinds of reactions cross the line of sporting respect.
Here is the ball throw: