Gianluca Prestianni Under Fire: Inside the Racism Storm Engulfing Benfica's Rising Star After Vinicius Jr Incident
Benfica striker Gianluca Prestianni has become the center of attention following accusations of racially targeting Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during Tuesday's Champions League playoff opening match.
The encounter, held at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon with Madrid securing a 1–0 victory, was briefly suspended in the second half when Vinicius informed referee François Letexier about receiving racial abuse. The purported incident happened following the Brazilian's goal celebration after halftime and was confirmed by Kylian Mbappé, who claimed he witnessed Prestianni "calling Vinicius a monkey, repeatedly."
Prestianni has subsequently refuted these accusations through social media and received backing from his coach José Mourinho, who surprisingly held Vinicius responsible for the situation.
UEFA has initiated a formal inquiry into the matter, though the timeline for completing such an investigation remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Prestianni remains under intense scrutiny.
Who Is Gianluca Prestianni?
Who Is Gianluca Prestianni?
The compact winger Prestianni entered European football just two years ago. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, the Argentine joined Vélez Sarsfield in his native country as a youth player, making his professional debut in a Copa Libertadores fixture in May 2022.
The subsequent year marked Prestianni's emergence, with the gifted 20-year-old featuring in 33 matches for Vélez Sarsfield while netting three goals. As expected for any promising South American talent early in their journey, he drew European interest.
Benfica secured his services for roughly €11 million ($11.9 million). Initially playing for their reserve squad, the attacker was elevated to the first team and has accumulated 45 appearances for the club—34 occurring in the present season. Prestianni has established himself as a consistent starter since mid-December.
Though eligible to play for Italy internationally, Prestianni selected Argentina. After representing the U17s and U20s, he earned his senior cap in November 2025 during La Albiceleste's friendly triumph over Angola—though his appearance was extremely short.
Previous Scandal Resurfaces
Previous Scandal Resurfaces
Following the allegations against him concerning Vinicius, an earlier incident has reemerged on social platforms. Footage from 2022 during a youth match between Argentina and Brazil displays Prestianni in an altercation with an opponent after the final whistle.
The Argentine is shown charging toward a Brazilian player before throwing multiple punches, triggering a massive fight between both squads on the pitch. Prestianni was ultimately held back by a teammate.
Once again, the Benfica forward finds himself embroiled in scandal, facing a potential 10-game ban if convicted of racial discrimination.
Benfica Legend Turns on Gianluca Prestianni
Benfica Legend Turns on Gianluca Prestianni
Luisão, the Brazilian defender who served Benfica for 15 years as a player, has strongly condemned Prestianni after the alleged incident, claiming the Argentine was dishonest in his social media defense.
"This shirt is too prestigious, I adore Benfica, it's part of me. One must be deserving to wear this sacred uniform. That statement is even more troubling because it's false ... football is earned through determination and fighting spirit. It was racist, absolutely, and I'm embarrassed by it," stated Luisão.
The 44-cap Brazil international isn't alone in criticizing Prestianni's supposed behavior, with Vinicius's Madrid colleagues also expressing their outrage. Trent Alexander-Arnold called it a "shame to football" and Mbappé declared that Prestianni "shouldn't be allowed to compete in the Champions League anymore."
Vinicius himself posted on social media following the match, stating: "Racists are fundamentally cowards. They must cover their faces to reveal their weakness.
"Yet they receive support from others who supposedly have a duty to impose consequences. Nothing from today is unfamiliar in my experience or my family's experience."