Mbappé Becomes Paraguay's Favorite Target in World Cup "Bullfight"

Kylian Mbappé became arguably France's most targeted player during their Round of 16 clash against Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup, a match notorious for numerous fouls and provocations from the South Americans.

This significantly compromised the performance of the main referee, Ilgiz Tantashev from Uzbekistan. He failed to issue a single yellow card to any Paraguayan player, while the esteemed Spanish newspaper "Marca" highlighted an interesting statistic regarding the rough play specifically against Mbappé. The Iberian outlet noted that after 29 challenges, 13 committed fouls, and numerous collisions, the brunt of these was borne by the Real Madrid star.

Surprisingly, the French received three yellow cards during the Round of 16 encounter, despite committing half as many fouls. This situation, at times, frustrated "Les Bleus," who saw how such tactics favored the Paraguayans' interests, bringing them dangerously close to extra time.

Ultimately, however, it was Mbappé who saved his team with a penalty goal, securing a 1-0 victory for the two-time world champions. France will face Morocco in a battle for a spot in the final four, with the match scheduled for July 9th (Thursday). This game, along with all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, can be watched on bnt.sportal.bg.