Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni has confessed to using racial slurs against Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, particularly referring to him as a monkey, during their Champions League encounter. This incident arose during the first leg of the knockout stage, as the teams clashed at Benfica's home ground. Prestianni's actions were captured during the match when he raised his jersey to his face and directed insults at Vinicius as the Brazilian scored to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead.

Following the match, Vinicius reported the abuse to the referee, which prompted further investigation. The Spanish players from Real Madrid later claimed that Prestianni had insulted Vinicius five times during the course of the game. While Benfica and Prestianni denied the allegations initially, the situation escalated, leading to UEFA imposing a temporary one-match ban on him for the return leg of the tie that took place in Madrid shortly after the incident.

Real Madrid ultimately advanced in the Champions League with an aggregate score of 3-1, but the controversy surrounding Prestianni's behavior has sparked a broader conversation about racism in football, particularly regarding the effectiveness of measures against such conduct. This incident highlights ongoing issues within the sport and the need for continued efforts to combat racial abuse, ensuring a more respectful environment for all players.