Khaberni - Vinicius Junior scored a wonderful goal, but the focus after his team Real Madrid's victory over their host Benfica in Portugal on Tuesday in the first leg of the qualifying playoff to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 in football was on a new incident of alleged racial abuse targeting the Brazilian star.
The match was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius informed the French referee Francois Lotexier that Benfica's Argentine striker Gianluca Prestiani had called him a "monkey".
Prestiani (20 years old), who covered his mouth with his shirt while seeming to say something to Vinicius, denies having made any racist insult.
Vinicius (25 years old) has become a frequent target of racism since arriving in the Spanish capital in 2018 from Flamengo.
He has been subjected to a large number of prominent incidents, mostly within Spain.
In January 2023, Atletico Madrid fans hung a doll resembling Vinicius from a bridge near the Real Madrid training facility.
Four months later, the player clashed with Valencia fans who had directed insults at him at Mestalla Stadium, in an incident that sparked global sympathy for him in his fight against racism.
Vinicius wrote on the "X" platform in 2024, after three Valencia fans were convicted: "I am not a victim of racism, but a tormentor of racists."
He added, "This is the first criminal judgment in Spanish history not for me, but for all black people."
In 2025, five fans from Real Valladolid were convicted of committing a hate crime, after they directed racial abuse at Vinicius during a 2022 match, marking the first sentence of its kind in Spain related to insults within a football stadium.
The recent period also witnessed many other incidents, most notably the fans of the second division team Albacete chanting racist slogans against the player in front of their stadium before eliminating Real Madrid from the King's Cup competition in January of the previous year.
The Champions League match against Benfica is the first time Vinicius has accused a rival player of racism.
He wrote on social media, "Racists, above all, are cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show their weakness."
His teammate at the royal club, French international Kylian Mbappe, called for Prestiani to be banned from the competition, saying, "This player does not deserve to play again in the Champions League."
- Why always Vinicius? -
Many wonder why Vinicius is repeatedly targeted for racial abuse unlike other Real Madrid players.
Current Benfica and former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho told "Amazon Prime": "There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. The stadium where Vinicius plays, something always happens," blaming the Brazilian player.
No doubt Vinicius' playing style and behavior are controversial, but that never justifies racial abuse.
The player has been Real Madrid's most prominent attacking weapon for years, at least until the arrival of Mbappe, and he is the best dribbler in the team.
As a player who continuously faces defenders and sometimes embarrasses them with skillful moves, he is often fouled, increasing the anger of fans who often accuse him of diving.
His emotional expressions and constant complaints to referees provoke opposing players and fans, in addition to his sometimes provocative celebrations in front of rival fans, as he did against Benfica when he danced holding the corner flag, before being pelted with projectiles.
Mbappe said on the "X" platform: "Dance, Vinicius, and please don't stop. No one should dictate to us what we should or should not do."
As he continues to confront racism openly, Vinicius becomes a clearer target, while the abuse continues to flow.
