Mbappé Reports Racist Abuse Incident In Champions League Clash

Kylian Mbappé accused SL Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing Vinícius Jr. during their UEFA Champions League match in Lisbon. Mbappé said the player called Vinícius a monkey 5 times, prompting a 10-minute stoppage under anti racism protocol. UEFA opened an investigation. Prestianni denied the claim and faces a possible 10-match ban. Real Madrid won the game narrowly.

In the UEFA Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Benfica, controversy overshadowed the football after serious allegations of racial abuse were raised. Kylian Mbappé claimed that Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni repeatedly insulted teammate Vinícius Jr. by calling him a monkey during the first leg at the Estádio da Luz on February 18, 2026. Vinícius scored the only goal of the match, but celebrations led to a heated confrontation.

The referee stopped play for 10 minutes after activating the anti racism protocol. UEFA later confirmed that an ethics and disciplinary inspector had been appointed to investigate the incident. If found guilty, Prestianni could face a suspension of up to 10 matches. Speaking to Spanish television, Mbappé said he personally heard the slurs and insisted that such behavior has no place in football.

While expressing respect for Benfica coach Jose Mourinho, he stated that players who engage in racism should not represent the competition. Prestianni denied the accusations in an Instagram post, saying Vinícius misunderstood his words and rejecting any racist intent. The second leg will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu on February 25, 2026.