Paraguayan Defender Caseres Reveals Kylian Mbappé's Remark During World Cup Clash

Juan José Caseres, the right-back for Paraguay’s national team, disclosed intriguing details about his intense encounter with French star Kylian Mbappé during Paraguay’s 0-1 defeat in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

In an interview with TyC Sports following Paraguay’s elimination, the Argentine player recounted a humorous moment amid the heated physical exchanges with Mbappé. Caseres smiled as he said, “He asked me, ‘What? Do you want to kiss me?’ I replied, ‘Okay, since you’re here,’” referring to the close contact between the players throughout the match.

The Dynamo Moscow defender added, “Fortunately, he played in a position closer to midfield rather than on my side, but I had to challenge him firmly, or else he would have slipped past me,” emphasizing that the defensive strategy required strict marking.

The match itself was marked by noticeable tension, with Mbappé, who scored the decisive penalty, expressing frustration over Paraguay’s style of play. He stated, “We showed that we are not just a team playing beautiful football. If we have to play aggressively, we will do so, apologies for the word,” adding, “We also know how to play aggressively, and today we won; in that aspect, we were better than them.”

Caseres strongly denied these accusations, saying, “I didn’t hear him. Honestly, I don’t even know what he said. He came out to say we played dirty, but we were just doing our duty,” defending his team’s performance against the world champions.

He concluded his remarks with pride despite the loss: “We gave our best. Every ball that came to us, we played it as if it were a final. We lost bravely, as Álvaro said,” referring to coach Álvaro’s praise of the team’s fighting spirit despite their World Cup exit.