Kylian Mbappe has a message for Vinicius Jr. after Gianluca Prestianni’s controversial moment

Kylian Mbappe backs Vinicius Jr after controversial Benfica clash

Mbappe’s message arrived in the aftermath of a fraught Champions League play-off tie with Benfica that quickly spilled into controversy.

“BAILA Vini Jr. and please never stop. They will never tell us what we have to do or not,” Mbappe wrote on X.

The comments came after Vinicius scored the decisive goal in Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in Lisbon, only for the match to be overshadowed by an ugly incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.

Vinicius alleged he was racially abused by Prestianni immediately after his celebration, prompting him to alert the referee and triggering UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, which temporarily halted the game.

What sparked the Vinicius Jr controversy in Lisbon

The flashpoint in Lisbon came moments after Vinicius Jr. celebrated his match-winning strike at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz.

As cameras captured the celebration by the corner flag, Vinicius was confronted by Prestianni, who covered his mouth while speaking.

Vinicius told the referee that he had been racially insulted, alleging that the word used was “mono,” Spanish for “monkey,” a claim that has significant historical sensitivity in the sport.

The referee activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, pausing the fixture for around ten minutes while conversations took place between officials, players, and staff.

Real Madrid players, including Mbappe, strongly defended Vinicius, insisting that such conduct has no place in football. Prestianni has denied the accusations, and UEFA is reviewing official match reports before any disciplinary measures are announced.

Even though the match eventually continued and ended in Real Madrid’s favour, the controversy has rumbled on, drawing attention to broader issues around racism in the game and how governing bodies respond to such allegations.