Vinicius Jr scored a sublime second-half winner as Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday, a night overshadowed by the Brazilian accusing Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racial slur at him.
The alleged incident took place shortly after Vinicius had put Real ahead five minutes into the second half at the Estadio da Luz, before referee Francois Letexier stopped the match for 11 minutes under FIFA’s anti-racism protocol.
Television footage showed the Argentina winger covering his mouth with his shirt before making a comment that Vinicius and his teammates interpreted as a racial slur against the 25-year-old, who has repeatedly been the victim of racism during matches in Spain.
Benfica started in the foreground but the visitor gradually took control as the hosts looked content to counter-attack, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing a stunning one-handed save to keep out a Fredrik Aursnes strike in the 25th minute.
Real finished the first half strongly and only the brilliance of goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin kept the scoreline goalless at the break as he produced stunning saves to deny Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler.
The breakthrough came five minutes after the restart. Mbappe charged forward and fed Vinicius on the left. The Brazilian cut diagonally towards the penalty area, slid inside and unleashed an unstoppable curling shot into the far top corner.
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Vinicius celebrated by dancing with the corner flag and was booked by Letexier for excessive partying.
While the striker argued with the referee, he became involved in a heated argument with Prestianni, with Vinicius and several teammates suddenly running towards the referee.
Letexier crossed his arms in front of his face to activate FIFA protocol and stopped the match. Real’s players threatened to leave the field as tensions flared before play eventually resumed 11 minutes later.
The atmosphere turned hostile, with Vinicius loudly booed whenever he touched the ball, and the broadcast camera appeared to show an indignant Mbappe calling Prestianni «a damn racist» to his face several times after the match resumed.
Tempers flared again in the 85th minute when Vinicius fouled Richard Rios. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho stormed up to the fourth official and demanded a second booking for the Brazilian, but was himself warned against his protests.
An incensed Mourinho continued to protest and was promptly shown a second yellow card.
Benfica pressed on late but managed just three shots on target as Real secured a slim lead to take back to Madrid for the second leg.
Published on February 18, 2026
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