Kylian Mbappé has issued a fierce warning to Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, insisting the young Argentine “shouldn’t come to the Bernabéu” following serious racism allegations during the UEFA Champions League knockout play-off first leg on February 17, 2026.
Rodrigo, the Real Madrid forward, defended his teammate, Vinícius Júnior, when a heated exchange between the two at Estadium da Luz halted the game at one point in time.
As Madrid triumphed 1-0 after Vinicius scored, the tensions were raised, as the Brazilian forward claimed that Prestianni was calling him a racial term, which is monkey, several times and seemed to be covering his mouth with his shirt.
What Items Happened in the Match.
This occurred soon after Vinicius made a score and celebrated and he immediately reported to the referee what he had supposedly overheard. The referee stopped the game as the matter was handled attracting the attention of both teams on the field.
Mbappé, as he addressed the media houses such as the TNT Sports at the end of the match, was categorical in his version of what happened.
The French superstar, who was the first to report the so-called abuse, said he witnessed it five times.
He also contributed by saying that a number of Benfica players who were close to him had also overheard the insult, which reinforced the argument of his Brazilian colleague.
Strong Message of Mbappé to Prestianni.
Mbappé was not restraining in his evaluation of the behaviour of Prestianni. The forward of Real Madrid has confirmed that this is not the behavior that should be present in football, and most certainly not at the European level.
He claimed that Prestianni does not deserve to represent the Champions League.
At the next second leg, Mbappé threatened: Gianluca Prestianni is not supposed to come to the Bernabéu, which is the best stadium in the world. It does not deserve him, he should not play.
Other reports suggest that Mbappé instigated even higher with a potential life time ban on the player in the champions league.
Although Mbappé revealed his respect of Benfica as a club and manager Jose Mourinho, he clarified that his criticism was directed to the purported acts of Prestianni – not the organization.
Vinicius Responds, Prestianni Denies.
Vinícius Júnior too showed no hesitation in speaking post-match and he issued a statement where he termed Prestianni a coward. Racist abuse directed at the Brazilian winger has been an issue all over his time in Spain and he has not been silent in holding those in charge to responsibility.
Prestianni, in his turn, proved the accused totally innocent, saying that he had been misunderstood. Benfica released a statement in support of their player and they said they were sorry about what the club termed a smear campaign.
The Portuguese giants argue that their winger had not cast any racial insults on Viniculus.
The allegations of discriminatory behavior have since been confirmed by Uefa which has since said it will open an investigation into the claims.
The implications of the findings of the governing body could be immense especially due to the second leg to play the Bernabéu.
Why This Incident Matters
This is not an isolated event. Since he had become part of Real Madrid, Vinícius Júnior has experienced several cases of racist abuse, so every new incident is even more important in the context of the overall discussion about the issue of racism in football.
The intervention of Mbappé is also weighty. His endorsement of Vinícius publicly gives the message that players throughout the game should be more safeguarded and those who have been caught guilty of racial abuse should be dealt with with severe repercussions more than ever before, as he is one of the most recognizable faces in the sport.
The France international positioned his arguments in terms of duty to the younger generations who are observing the sport and stated that being an example was not a choice.
What Happens Next
The second Real Madrid Benfica match will occur next week at Santiago Bernabue. The presence of Prestianni features will be determined by whether UEFA will proceed and issue a decision on the matter before the match.
The demands that Prestianni be banned the tie — and possibly the competition in Europe altogether — keep increasing worldwide in the football community.
The reaction of UEFA in the next few days will be under scrutiny by players, clubs, and fans desiring to see the various bodies governing football practice a strong decisive action against racism in all levels of the game.
Union of European Football Association has attested that an enquiry is in progress. No formal charges were made when it was published.
