Vinícius Júnior refused to stay quiet after the Real Madrid’s win over Benfica, which was marred by a racist incident and abuse from Benfica fans — including objects thrown that made direct contact with Vinicius. Roughly an hour after the final whistle, the Brazilian forward took to Instagram with a powerful message condemning the racist abuse he reported at the Estádio da Luz. “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to show how weak they are,” he wrote, referencing the images of Prestianni covering his mouth before Vinícius ran to alert the referee of his racist words.
But Vinícius’ frustration wasn’t directed only at the individuals responsible for the insults. He also questioned the wider system that, in his view, continues to fail players in these moments. “They have the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish,” he added, in what appeared to be criticism of both UEFA and the officials tasked with enforcing anti-racism measures. Vinícius suggested that the protocol initiated by referee François Letexier fell short of what was required, calling it “Just a poorly executed protocol that didn’t serve any purpose.”
The forward also spoke about the yellow card he received after celebrating Real Madrid’s winning goal, expressing confusion at the decision. “I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why,” he wrote.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Vinícius made clear that he did not want attention drawn away from Madrid’s performance or result. “I don’t like to appear in situations like this, especially after a big win and when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary,” he explained — a line that captures the reality he has faced for years: excelling on the pitch while repeatedly being forced to confront racism off it.
Real Madrid Won at Da Luz. Vinícius Had to Fight Something Bigger.
Real Madrid left Lisbon with a 1–0 victory over Benfica — a disciplined, mature performance in a hostile environment. Carlo Ancelotti’s side controlled long stretches of the match, managed the tempo intelligently, and showed the kind of composure that defines European contenders.
But the football will not be the only thing remembered from this night.
Instead, once again, the conversation has been pulled toward an all-too-familiar and deeply troubling subject: racist abuse directed at Vinícius Júnior.
Midway through the match, Vinícius ran toward referee François Letexier to report an incident involving Benfica’s Prestianni. Television images appeared to show the Benfica player covering his mouth while speaking, and Vinícius immediately reacted by alerting the official. The anti-racism protocol was activated, and the game was temporarily suspended before eventually resuming.
There was also evidence of objects being thrown from the stands in Vinícius’ direction, along with abusive chants from sections of the crowd.