AFCON 2025
On 17 February 2026, Real Madrid visited Benfica in Lisbon for the first leg of their Champions League play-off. Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior scored the only goal just after the hour mark, curling a brilliant shot into the top corner to give Madrid a 1–0 lead.
His celebration; dancing near the Benfica fans was followed by tense moments. Shortly after, an exchange happened between Vinícius and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who appeared to speak to him while covering his mouth with his jersey. Cameras caught Vinícius run to referee François Letexier and report what he said was a racist insult.
The referee immediately triggered both UEFA and FIFA anti-racism protocols. Letexier crossed his arms, the standard signal in football to indicate a racism allegation and the match was halted for around eight to ten minutes.
Real Madrid players gathered around, visibly upset. Some even considered walking off the pitch entirely in solidarity with Vinícius, but they eventually resumed play and finished the game.
During the remainder of the match, Benfica fans reportedly booed Vinícius and even threw a water bottle toward him as he roamed the touchline.
What Vinícius and Others Said
After the game, Vinícius took to social media and condemned the incident, saying:
Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how weak they are.Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my family’s life.
He also criticised how the anti-racism protocol was applied, calling it “poorly executed.”
Real Madrid teammates and allies chimed in too. Kylian Mbappé said he heard Prestianni call Vinícius a “monkey” multiple times and called for the Benfica player to be banned from the Champions League.
Other Real Madrid figures, including Álvaro Arbeloa, stressed football must be intolerant of racism and supported Vinícius’ decision to report the incident.
Benfica and Prestianni’s Response
Prestianni released his own statement denying the racism claim, saying he did not make racist remarks and that Vinícius misheard him. He added that he regretted the threats he received from Real Madrid players after the incident.
Benfica’s head coach José Mourinho also addressed the incident. He insisted that Benfica is not a racist club, pointed to the club’s legendary Black player Eusébio as part of that history, and suggested Vinícius’ celebration “sparked” the event comments that drew heavy criticism.
Wider Fallout and UEFA Review
The controversy quickly spread across social media and football-world debates. Supporters were divided, pundits called for accountability, and UEFA confirmed it is reviewing the official match reports to decide if disciplinary action is needed.
For Real Madrid fans and many neutrals, the moment was another painful chapter in Vinícius’s long history of speaking out against racial abuse in football. For Benfica, it has become a reputational challenge as the club navigates denials and accusations in the public eye.
