Football legends and current stars have rallied behind Vinicius Jr after an alleged racist incident during Real Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Benfica. The Brazilian winger scored the match’s only goal, but the spotlight shifted to claims that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni directed racist abuse at him.

Vinicius took to social media to respond, 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.”

Top Footballers Speak Out

Several high-profile players publicly defended Vinicius and condemned racism:

Kylian Mbappe claimed Prestianni repeatedly called Vinicius a “monkey” and described the behavior as “unacceptable” and “terrible for world football.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold praised Vinicius’ mental strength, noting he has endured abuse before and “handled it excellently.”

Alvaro Arbeloa highlighted the importance of fighting racism and supporting players under attack.

Thierry Henry shared his own experiences, pointing out the isolation players face when targeted.

Wayne Rooney defended Vinicius’ goal celebration, calling ongoing racism in football “so sad.”

Clarence Seedorf criticized comments by José Mourinho, emphasizing racial abuse should never be excused.

Jamie Carragher, Theo Walcott, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards all echoed the call for accountability and condemned the alleged abuse.

Renewed Call for Action Against Racism

The incident has reignited discussions about racism in football. Vinicius’ willingness to speak out has been widely praised, with the football community united in demanding swift action and stronger measures to protect players.

The message from football stars is clear: racism has no place on or off the pitch, and the sport must do more to support its players while holding offenders accountable.