Mbappe calls for Prestianni ban after an alleged racist slur directed at Vinicius Jr during Real Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League playoff win over Benfica in Lisbon.
The incident occurred shortly after Vinicius scored early in the second half. Television footage showed Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt before making a remark that Vinicius and nearby teammates interpreted as a racial insult.
As tensions rose, referee Francois Letexier halted the match for 11 minutes and activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocols. Play later resumed, but the atmosphere remained hostile.
Mbappe Calls for Prestianni Ban
Kylian Mbappe said he heard Prestianni repeat the alleged insult several times. Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni also supported the claim.
“We cannot accept that there is a player in Europe’s top competition who behaves like this,” Mbappe told reporters. He added that such conduct has no place in the Champions League and called for strong action.
Como demonstram as imagens, dada a distância, os jogadores do Real Madrid não podem ter ouvido o que andam a dizer que ouviram. pic.twitter.com/7JF9AVuhEM
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) February 18, 2026Mbappe revealed he had considered leaving the pitch. However, Vinicius persuaded him to continue the match.
Prestianni denied the accusation in an Instagram statement. He said Vinicius misunderstood his words and insisted he had never directed racist insults at anyone. He also claimed he received threats following the incident.
Despite the disruption, Real Madrid closed out the game without further interruptions. However, the controversy continued off the pitch.
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Vinicius later posted a message on social media, expressing frustration. He described racists as “cowards” and said incidents like this were not new in his life or his family’s experience.
The Brazilian forward has faced repeated racist abuse in Spain in recent years. The issue has prompted multiple legal complaints and renewed calls for stronger action in football. Real Madrid and Benfica will meet again for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.
