Benfica Legend Targets Racism as He Backs Vinícius Jr.

Backlash and the Benfica Legend

The Brazilian captain Luisao, a cornerstone of Benfica's history, faced a harsh surge of online abuse after publicly backing Vinícius Júnior in the fight against racism. The clashes unfolded around a Champions League playoff where Real Madrid secured a victory, with Vinícius the decisive scorer, and where Benfica’s Argentine player Gianluca Prestiani was accused of racist conduct by some observers.

Vinícius Júnior has alleged that Gianluca Prestiani, Benfica’s Argentine player, called him a monkey during the first leg of the playoff. Real Madrid took the lead in the tie with a goal by the Brazilian star, while the accusations of racism circulated in the aftermath, with both sides contesting the interpretation of events.

Luizao, speaking in a recent interview with Portuguese television, described the magnitude of the abuse he received online, noting messages filled with racist language and threats of ban from the Estádio da Luz moving forward.

He recalled hearing: "I was insulted on social media, called a monkey, Judas the traitor, and told I would never set foot in the stadium again."

Luizao expressed deep disappointment at the attack, stressing that the Benfica jersey feels like a second skin to him, yet emphasizing that taking a stand against racism is a moral duty, not a negotiation with bigotry.

This abuse did not deter Luizao from his position. Instead, it reinforced his support for Vinícius Júnior, whom he described as a hero and a model in the fight against discrimination and racism.

Previously, Luizao had already hinted that what happened in Real Madrid vs Benfica amounted to an explicit racist act, and he expressed shame that a Benfica player could engage in such slurs, underscoring that the club’s shirt is sacred and should never be tainted by racist behavior.

He concluded his remarks by saying: "The issue is deeply painful; you feel it, yet you cannot simply do nothing. I hope Europe, as a football reference, also becomes a reference in anti-racism."

Punchline 1: If racism were a football match, some fans would still insist on offsides—because apparently fairness is an option only when the ref agrees with you.

Punchline 2: In football as in comedy, the real goal is to score with a clean conscience—preferably without extra time in the waiting room of prejudice.