Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on February 18, 2026, but the match was overshadowed by an alleged racist slur directed at Vinicius Jr. by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. The game halted for about eight minutes after Vinicius reported the incident to referee François Letexier, who activated the anti-racism protocol. UEFA has launched an investigation into the matter.
The incident unfolded shortly after Vinicius Jr. scored the game's only goal in the 50th minute at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, curling a shot into the top corner to give Real Madrid the lead. Celebrating near the corner flag, Vinicius drew an angry reaction from Benfica fans, who threw bottles and objects. As play prepared to resume, Prestianni approached Vinicius and allegedly called him a 'monkey' while covering his mouth with his jersey, prompting Vinicius to alert the referee.
Letexier immediately crossed his arms to invoke UEFA's anti-racism protocol, pausing the match for around eight minutes. Vinicius sat on the sideline, visibly upset, while teammates including Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni considered walking off but decided to continue. Prestianni denied the accusation, telling reporters to 'stop inventing things' and later posting on Instagram that Vinicius 'misinterpreted what he thought he heard.' He also claimed to have received threats from Real Madrid players.
Benfica issued a statement supporting Prestianni, condemning a 'defamation campaign' against him and reaffirming their anti-racism stance, citing club legend Eusébio. Manager Jose Mourinho suggested Vinicius' celebrations incited the crowd, stating, 'When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.' He added that Benfica could not be racist given Eusébio's history with the club. Mourinho received a red card late in the match for protesting referee decisions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed shock, saying, 'There is absolutely no room for racism in our sport,' and commended the referee's actions. Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out criticized Mourinho's comments as 'gaslighting.' Former Benfica captain Luisão sided with Vinicius on social media, calling it 'a racist act' and expressing shame. Thierry Henry questioned UEFA's commitment to anti-racism protocols, while FIFA's Players' Voice Panel discussed potential sanctions for players covering their mouths during disputes.
Vinicius posted on Instagram: 'Racists are cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how weak they are.' Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold called the incident 'a disgrace to football.' The second leg is scheduled for February 25 at Santiago Bernabéu, with UEFA reviewing match reports for possible disciplinary action.
