Real Madrid’s Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior has found himself at the centre of a racial abuse controversy following his decisive goal in last night’s Champions League play-off first-leg victory over Benfica. Real secured a 1–0 win at Benfica’s stadium, with the sole goal scored by Vinícius in the 50th minute. However, the goal celebration quickly sparked a heated incident on the pitch.
During the celebration near the corner flag, Vinícius became involved in a verbal altercation with Benfica’s Argentine winger Gianluca Prestiani. The Brazilian claimed that Prestiani directed a racist slur at him, prompting referee François Letexier to halt the match for over ten minutes under anti-racism protocols. Real midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni later revealed that Vinícius had informed teammates that Prestiani had called him a “monkey” multiple times.
Television footage shows Prestiani covering his face with his jersey while speaking to Vinícius, who then gestured toward the referee. Letexier responded by signalling a potential racial abuse complaint. Vinícius has previously been subjected to racist incidents on the field.
After the match, Vinícius wrote on Instagram:
“Racists are cowards. They cover their faces with their jerseys to hide their weakness.”
Prestiani, however, denied the allegations in a post approximately four hours later, stating:
“I want to make it clear that I never made any racist remarks to Vinícius Júnior. Unfortunately, he misunderstood my words. I have never been racist toward anyone.”
The incident caused concern among Real Madrid’s coaching staff and players. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa stated that the team was prepared to leave the field if Vinícius wished, but after discussion, the decision was made to continue the match. Arbeloa emphasised at the post-match press conference:
“Zero tolerance is needed for racism. In 2026, such behaviour cannot occur on the pitch. Vinícius knew we were beside him throughout, and we always will be.”
Other Real players voiced their support. Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold described the situation as “embarrassing for sport and society,” while midfielder Federico Valverde lamented the lack of video evidence. Kylian Mbappé claimed Prestiani had called Vinícius “a monkey” five times during the game.
In contrast, Benfica midfielder Leandro Barreiro suggested the comments were merely part of normal on-field provocation and not racist.
The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) publicly supported Vinícius, condemning racism and commending his courage in activating protocols:
“Racism is a crime and has no place in football or anywhere else. Vinícius, you are not alone. We are proud of you and stand with you always.”
Benfica coach José Morinho adopted a neutral stance, noting the complexity of the situation and stressing that both players provided differing accounts. He added that the club’s history includes iconic Black players, such as Eusébio, and that labeling the club as racist would be unfair.
The second leg will take place at Santiago Bernabéu on 25 February, with Real Madrid seeking to consolidate their advantage.
Match Details
| Competition | Date | Venue | Score | Goal Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League Play-off 1st Leg | 17 Feb 2026 | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon | Benfica 0–1 Real Madrid | Vinícius Júnior (50′) |
