After alleged racist abuse during Real Madrid’s win over Benfica, football stars including Mbappé and Alexander-Arnold show solidarity with Vinicius Jr.

Following an alleged racist incident during Real Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Benfica, Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. received widespread support from players, former players, and football personalities worldwide.

During the match, Vinicius scored the only goal of the first-leg tie, but attention quickly shifted to claims that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni directed racist abuse at him.

Vinicius took to social media to condemn the abuse, writing:

“Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life.”

Kylian Mbappé confirmed that Prestianni allegedly called Vinicius a “monkey” repeatedly and described the behavior as terrible for world football.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold praised Vinicius’ mental strength, noting his resilience in facing abuse, while former Real Madrid defender Álvaro Arbeloa emphasized the need to fight racism and support players.

Other football figures speaking out include Thierry Henry, Clarence Seedorf, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, and Jamie Carragher.

The incident has reignited global discussions about racism in football and the urgent need for swift action and accountability. Vinicius’ courage in speaking out has been widely applauded, uniting the football community against racial abuse.