Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Benfica in the first leg of their 2025-26 Champions League knockout playoffs, but the night’s headlines have been dominated by a disturbing incident between Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni, which even Benfica coach Jose Mourinho addressed. The Brazilian international reported being the target of racial slurs from the Argentine forward shortly after scoring the game-winning goal.
The Benfica-Real Madrid match was suspended for several minutes as Vinicius left the field, invoking UEFA’s anti-racism protocol while visibly shaken by the encounter. While officials found the on-field footage inconclusive due to Prestianni covering his mouth with his jersey, the Real Madrid star chose not to stay silent after the final whistle.
Taking to his official Instagram account, Vinicius Jr. published a lengthy statement addressing the evening’s events. While he did not mention Prestianni by name, he alluded to the “cowardly” nature of racial gestures in the modern game. Aurelien Tchouameni revealed after the game that Prestianni allegedly called Vinicius “m*nkey” while covering his mouth with his shirt.
Vinicius’ message after Prestianni incident
“Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life,” Vinicius wrote.
“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like to appear in situations like this, especially after a big win and when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
Brazilian Football Federation defends Vinicius
Following the incident, Federico Valverde publicly stood up for his teammate, as did Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe, who even called for Prestianni to be banned from the Champions League. Joining the outcry against racism and the defense of Vinicius was the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), which released a heartfelt message.
“The CBF stands in solidarity with Vinícius Júnior, victim of yet another act of racism this Tuesday after scoring for Real Madrid against Benfica in Lisbon. Racism is a crime. It is unacceptable. It cannot exist in football or anywhere else,” the CBF wrote on its X account.
“Vini, you are not alone. Your actions in activating the protocol are an example of courage and dignity. We are proud of you. We will remain firm in the fight against all forms of discrimination. We are by your side. Always,” the message concluded.
