Real Madrid's crucial 1-0 Champions League knockout play-off victory against Benfica in Lisbon has been overshadowed by a severe racism scandal involving superstar Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian forward, who scored the match-winning goal, briefly walked off the pitch at the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday night after accusing Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him, triggering UEFA's anti-racism protocol and a tense ten-minute stoppage.
Vinicius Junior Racism Incident: What Happened in Lisbon?
The flashpoint occurred in the 52nd minute, moments after Vinicius Junior had broken the deadlock with a sensational curling strike to give Real Madrid the lead. As the 25-year-old celebrated near the corner flag, tensions boiled over. According to reports and video evidence, Benfica's Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni confronted Vinicius, covering his mouth with his jersey while allegedly directing racial slurs at the Madrid forward.
Visibly distressed, Vinicius immediately alerted French referee Francois Letexier, identifying Prestianni as the aggressor. In a powerful display of defiance, the Brazilian star walked towards the touchline and sat in the Real Madrid dugout, refusing to continue play. Referee Letexier responded by crossing his arms—the official signal for activating step one of UEFA's three-step anti-racism protocol—halting the match as stadium announcements called for order.
Teammates and Manager Rally Around Vinicius
The stoppage plunged the match into chaos. Real Madrid players, led by Kylian Mbappé and defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, surrounded Vinicius in support, with some appearing ready to leave the field entirely. Mbappé, speaking in the mixed zone after the game, was furious about the incident.
"I heard it. He said it five times," Mbappé told reporters, referring to the alleged slurs. "Racism has no place in football, and what happened tonight is disgusting. We cannot accept this."
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, facing his former club, was sent off during the chaotic interlude for vehemently protesting the officials' handling of the situation. While Mourinho later stated that Prestianni denied the abuse, he acknowledged the gravity of the accusation, telling the press, "If it happened, it's a disgrace. But I must defend my player until proven otherwise."
Vinicius Junior Breaks Silence: 'Racists Are Cowards'
Despite the emotional toll, Vinicius eventually returned to the pitch to see out the 1-0 victory, securing a vital advantage for Real Madrid ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. However, the result was secondary to the Brazilian's post-match message. Taking to Instagram shortly after the final whistle, Vinicius posted a defiant statement.
"Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how weak they are," he wrote. "The protocol was badly executed and served no purpose, but I will continue to fight. Nothing that happened today is new in my life."
UEFA Racism Investigation and Global Fallout
The incident has sparked immediate global outrage. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued a statement expressing "total solidarity" with their star player, praising his courage. Meanwhile, UEFA is expected to launch an immediate disciplinary investigation into the conduct of Gianluca Prestianni and the Benfica crowd, with significant sanctions possible under the new soccer racism scandal 2026 guidelines.
This latest episode adds to a shameful list of racist abuse targeted at Vinicius Junior in European stadiums. As Real Madrid prepares for the return leg, the football world once again finds itself asking why these incidents continue to plague the beautiful game, overshadowing what should have been a night celebrating a brilliant performance by one of the world's best players.
