The Price of Being Black and Proud in European Soccer
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StudentNation
/ February 25, 2026
The Price of Being Black and Proud in European Soccer
The Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. has repeatedly been a victim of racist abuse from soccer fans. Now, it seems such vitriol can even come from players without much consequence.
Takashi Williams
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Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid.
(Gualter Fatia / Getty)
This story was produced for StudentNation, a program of the Nation Fund for Independent Journalism, which is dedicated to highlighting the best of student journalism. For more StudentNation, check out our archive or learn more about the program here. StudentNation is made possible through generous funding from The Puffin Foundation. If you’re a student and you have an article idea, please send pitches and questions to [email protected].
In 1965, Malcolm X gave a speech to a local church in Selma, Alabama. In that speech, he addressed the Klu Klux Klan as such: “They put on a sheet so you won’t know who they are—that’s a coward. No! The time will come when that sheet will be ripped off. If the federal government doesn’t take it off, we’ll take it off.”
On February 17, Gianluca Prestianni was not wearing a sheet, but was a coward all the same. The 20-year old Argentine soccer player for S.L. Benfica covered his mouth with his canary-red jersey as he allegedly called Vinicius Jr. “mono,” Spanish for “monkey,” five consecutive times after the star Brazilian had celebrated after scoring a goal. The game was stopped for 10 minutes before play continued. Prestianni denied that he said “mono,” claiming to have used a homophobic slur instead. In response, the club has said that there has been a “defamation campaign” against him. “I heard it,” said Kylian Mbappé of the alleged racist abuse. “There are Benfica players that also heard it.”
Unfortunately, this is not a standalone incident for the sport—especially for Vinicius Jr. Since signing to Real Madrid CF in 2018, Vinicius Jr. has faced over 26 instances of racial abuse. While the regularity of these incidents has transformed him into a global figure of resistance against racial discrimination, it has also intensified the severity of the attacks.
Current Issue
March 2026 Issue
In 2021, Vinicius Jr. was having his best season since arriving in Spain when the first reported incident of abuse occurred while playing against FC Barcelona. The harassment soon evolved from single individuals to entire stadiums. When competing in away matches, the Brazilian was met with monkey noises …
Every delay has consequences.
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Current Issue
Society
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StudentNation
/ February 25, 2026
The Price of Being Black and Proud in European Soccer
The Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. has repeatedly been a victim of racist abuse from soccer fans. Now, it seems such vitriol can even come from players without much consequence.
Takashi Williams
Share
Copy Link
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Ad Policy
Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid.
(Gualter Fatia / Getty)
This story was produced for StudentNation, a program of the Nation Fund for Independent Journalism, which is dedicated to highlighting the best of student journalism. For more StudentNation, check out our archive or learn more about the program here. StudentNation is made possible through generous funding from The Puffin Foundation. If you’re a student and you have an article idea, please send pitches and questions to [email protected].
In 1965, Malcolm X gave a speech to a local church in Selma, Alabama. In that speech, he addressed the Klu Klux Klan as such: “They put on a sheet so you won’t know who they are—that’s a coward. No! The time will come when that sheet will be ripped off. If the federal government doesn’t take it off, we’ll take it off.”
On February 17, Gianluca Prestianni was not wearing a sheet, but was a coward all the same. The 20-year old Argentine soccer player for S.L. Benfica covered his mouth with his canary-red jersey as he allegedly called Vinicius Jr. “mono,” Spanish for “monkey,” five consecutive times after the star Brazilian had celebrated after scoring a goal. The game was stopped for 10 minutes before play continued. Prestianni denied that he said “mono,” claiming to have used a homophobic slur instead. In response, the club has said that there has been a “defamation campaign” against him. “I heard it,” said Kylian Mbappé of the alleged racist abuse. “There are Benfica players that also heard it.”
Unfortunately, this is not a standalone incident for the sport—especially for Vinicius Jr. Since signing to Real Madrid CF in 2018, Vinicius Jr. has faced over 26 instances of racial abuse. While the regularity of these incidents has transformed him into a global figure of resistance against racial discrimination, it has also intensified the severity of the attacks.
Current Issue
March 2026 Issue
In 2021, Vinicius Jr. was having his best season since arriving in Spain when the first reported incident of abuse occurred while playing against FC Barcelona. The harassment soon evolved from single individuals to entire stadiums. When competing in away matches, the Brazilian was met with monkey noises …
The Price of Being Black and Proud in European Soccer
Every delay has consequences.
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The Price of Being Black and Proud in European Soccer
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Current Issue
Society
/
StudentNation
/ February 25, 2026
The Price of Being Black and Proud in European Soccer
The Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. has repeatedly been a victim of racist abuse from soccer fans. Now, it seems such vitriol can even come from players without much consequence.
Takashi Williams
Share
Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Email
Ad Policy
Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid.
(Gualter Fatia / Getty)
This story was produced for StudentNation, a program of the Nation Fund for Independent Journalism, which is dedicated to highlighting the best of student journalism. For more StudentNation, check out our archive or learn more about the program here. StudentNation is made possible through generous funding from The Puffin Foundation. If you’re a student and you have an article idea, please send pitches and questions to [email protected].
In 1965, Malcolm X gave a speech to a local church in Selma, Alabama. In that speech, he addressed the Klu Klux Klan as such: “They put on a sheet so you won’t know who they are—that’s a coward. No! The time will come when that sheet will be ripped off. If the federal government doesn’t take it off, we’ll take it off.”
On February 17, Gianluca Prestianni was not wearing a sheet, but was a coward all the same. The 20-year old Argentine soccer player for S.L. Benfica covered his mouth with his canary-red jersey as he allegedly called Vinicius Jr. “mono,” Spanish for “monkey,” five consecutive times after the star Brazilian had celebrated after scoring a goal. The game was stopped for 10 minutes before play continued. Prestianni denied that he said “mono,” claiming to have used a homophobic slur instead. In response, the club has said that there has been a “defamation campaign” against him. “I heard it,” said Kylian Mbappé of the alleged racist abuse. “There are Benfica players that also heard it.”
Unfortunately, this is not a standalone incident for the sport—especially for Vinicius Jr. Since signing to Real Madrid CF in 2018, Vinicius Jr. has faced over 26 instances of racial abuse. While the regularity of these incidents has transformed him into a global figure of resistance against racial discrimination, it has also intensified the severity of the attacks.
Current Issue
March 2026 Issue
In 2021, Vinicius Jr. was having his best season since arriving in Spain when the first reported incident of abuse occurred while playing against FC Barcelona. The harassment soon evolved from single individuals to entire stadiums. When competing in away matches, the Brazilian was met with monkey noises …
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