Paraguay vs France - Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 clash ft. Kylian Mbappe & Julio Enciso

France have never lost against Paraguay in head-to-head encounters

After the successful conclusion of the group stages and round of 32, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has its top 16 teams. Winners of this round will move to the quarter-finals. However, one of the headline fixtures of the Round of 16 stage will be an encounter between Paraguay and France.

Paraguay shocked the entire world when they knocked out four-time winners Germany from the World Cup in the Round of 32 on penalties. The South American nation had a nightmare start to their campaign as they lost 4-1 against the hosts, the USA, on the opening matchday. However, with their grit and determination, the whole squad stayed together and made history.

France, on the other hand are one of the strongest contenders to lift the biggest trophy in football for the third time. With the tutelage of Didier Deschamps, France has been utterly dominant in the last two iterations of the competition. They defeated Croatia in 2018 to win their second-ever FIFA World Cup and only lost the final on penalties against Argentina in 2022. They comfortably defeated Sweden in the Round of 32 as well and are looking superior to the rest of the teams in the competition.

In this article, we will take a look at some key players from both sides who are expected to step up in this clash.

5. Dayot Upamecano (France)

The resurgence of Dayot Upamecano in recent years has been inspiring. He has performed incredibly well so far in this tournament and has a case for being the defender at this World Cup. He is a perfect blend of elite technical ability and supreme physicality. He effectively plays long balls and helps France get the ball to the final third as soon as possible. He has the pace to cover up spaces behind and defends brilliantly in one-on-one situations.

4. Orlando Gill (Paraguay)

Orlando Gill had a performance of a lifetime against Germany and is one of the Major reasons behind Paraguay’s successful qualification to the Round of 16. He made six saves throughout the game and even stopped two penalties during the shootout. Gill also was claiming high falls frequently as well which was helping out his defense, and was crowned man of the match for his heroic display.

3. Julio Enciso (Paraguay)

Julio Enciso has the most productive attacker for Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Paraguay have scored three goals in the entire competition so far, and Enciso has scored one and assisted the other two. He is the main creative outlet of his team and is their biggest difference maker in the final third as well. Paraguay are not expected to have a lot of chances against France. However, if Enciso capitalizes on the moments he have like he has done so far, Paraguay can put up a great fight against France.

2. Ousmane Dembélé (France)

Ousmane Dembélé scored an excellent hat-trick against Norway in the group stage and even assisted the opening goal of the game against Sweden in the Round of 32. He is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and has even won his second consecutive UEFA Champions League title with PSG. His blistering pace and ability to utilize both feet effectively make him a threatening presence on the wings and centrally. He is also very creative and hardworking off the ball, which makes him a complete attacker.

1. Kylian Mbappe (France)

Topping our list without any surprise is Kylian Mbappe. He is arguably the best performer of the last two World Cups and has already cemented his legacy in the competition’s history. He has found the back of the net six times already this time around as well, and will be eager to make a difference against Paraguay as well. He is explosive on the ball, and his ability to create a separation with his marker in closed spaces makes him one of the most feared strikers in world football. Paraguay has been excellent defensively, but dealing with someone like Kylian Mbappe will be a test of a completely different magnitude for them.

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