Vinícius Júnior racism allegation overshadows Real Madrid's Champions League win at Benfica

February 18, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Vinícius Júnior racism allegation overshadows Real Madrid's Champions League win at Benfica

Real Madrid's narrow Champions League victory over Benfica was eclipsed by controversy after Vinícius Júnior reported an alleged incident of racist abuse during the match at the Estádio da Luz.

The Brazilian forward, who scored the game's only goal, became the centre of attention following a heated exchange with Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni - an incident that triggered UEFA's anti-racism protocol and temporarily halted play.

Stunning goal, immediate tension

After a goalless first half, Vinícius broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart with a superb curling strike into the top corner.

The finish was worthy of the Champions League stage, yet the celebrations quickly gave way to confrontation.

The forward's animated reaction towards sections of the home crowd drew jeers, and the referee, François Letexier, issued a yellow card for what was deemed excessive celebration.

Moments later, tensions escalated as Vinícius became involved in a verbal exchange with Prestianni near the centre of the pitch.

Television cameras captured Prestianni speaking with his shirt raised over his mouth - a gesture often associated with attempts to prevent lip-reading.

Vinícius immediately approached Letexier to report the exchange.

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UEFA anti-racism protocol activated

Following Vinícius's complaint, Letexier activated UEFA's anti-racism protocol, signalling a reported discriminatory incident.

Play was paused for approximately ten minutes whilst discussions took place involving players and coaching staff.

Madrid's players briefly left the pitch amid the stoppage, underlining the seriousness of the situation.

One member of Benfica's staff was dismissed during the disruption, although official clarification on that decision remains limited.

Despite the interruption, Prestianni remained on the field when play resumed and was later substituted in the second half.

Mbappé’s strong response

Kylian Mbappé delivered the most forceful post-match reaction, condemning the alleged abuse in unequivocal terms.

Speaking to Movistar+, the French forward claimed he had clearly witnessed racist language directed at his team-mate.

What I've seen is very clear: player number 25 has told Vini five times, "You're a monkey."

We can't accept this kind of behavior.

He further criticised attempts to conceal remarks on the pitch, suggesting that whilst words may be hidden, "expressions and behaviour" reveal intent.

Look at his face; his face doesn't lie. Because he was clever, he covered his lips with his shirt so we couldn't see what he said. But the face doesn't lie.

Mbappé also confirmed that Madrid's players discussed the possibility of not continuing the match, emphasising solidarity with Vinícius.

We thought about leaving. Then several things happened and we came back.

We stayed focused on the match and we won; but there are more important things than football tonight.

Mourinho and Benfica response

Benfica head coach José Mourinho offered a more measured assessment, acknowledging conflicting accounts of the incident.

The Portuguese boss stressed that he could not definitively support either version without certainty over what was said.

I want to be independent, I don't want to say I believe Prestianni and don't believe Vini because they said two completely different things. I want to be independent, and I don't comment about it.

Mourinho also drew attention to Vinícius' celebrations, suggesting they contributed to rising tensions inside a charged stadium environment.

Unfortunately, he was not just happy to score that stunning goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.

His remarks, however, have generated debate, with critics arguing that celebrations should not distract from allegations of discriminatory conduct.

Prestianni later issued a public statement via social media denying any racist intent.

I want to clarify that at no point did I direct racist insults at Vinícius Júnior, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard. I have never been racist toward anyone.

And I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.

Vinícius Júnior speaks out

Vinícius addressed the controversy on social media, voicing frustration at both the alleged abuse and the handling of the protocol.

He described racist behaviour as cowardly and questioned the effectiveness of existing measures designed to combat discrimination.

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.

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.

The forward also expressed confusion over the booking he received for his celebration, arguing that attention should have remained on the football itself.

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.

UEFA investigation and potential sanctions

With the anti-racism protocol formally invoked, UEFA is expected to review the incident under its disciplinary regulations.

Article 14 of UEFA's rules provides for significant sanctions in confirmed cases of discriminatory conduct, including lengthy suspensions.

No official ruling has yet been made, and any disciplinary outcome will depend on evidence gathered by UEFA's investigation.

A familiar and troubling narrative

For Vinícius, the episode adds to a distressingly long list of previous experiences with racial abuse.

The Brazil international has become one of football's most prominent voices against racism, repeatedly calling for stronger action from governing bodies.

Whilst Madrid secured a valuable first-leg advantage, the result itself has been overshadowed by a reminder of the challenges the sport continues to face.

The two sides are set to meet again in the return leg next week, where sporting focus will compete with anticipation over UEFA's findings.

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