Vinicius Jr. in Lisbon: A Masterpiece Overshadowed by a 20th Incident of Abuse

On Tuesday night at the Estadio da Luz, football was supposed to celebrate a masterpiece. Vinicius Jr. scored a goal so breathtaking it should have dominated global headlines. Instead, the Champions League play-off between Real Madrid and Benfica was halted for ten minutes.

This marks the 20th time the 25-year-old forward has reported alleged racist abuse during his eight years in Spain. The latest incident involved an alleged slur from Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni. While Prestianni denies the claim, Kylian Mbappe reportedly told officials he heard the slur used five times.

A Pattern of “Racism Without Racists”

The reaction from officials has sparked fresh outrage. Benfica boss Jose Mourinho suggested Vinicius provoked the situation with his celebration. He claimed the club could not be racist because their greatest legend, Eusebio, was Black.

Sociologists often call this “racism without racists.” It is a framework where the victim is blamed for their reaction rather than the abuse itself. Vinicius has been told to “just play and keep quiet” for years. However, his defiance is now seen by many as a necessary act of survival.

The Statistics of a Struggle

The hostility towards Vinicius is documented by dates, names, and court records. Here are some of the key cases from his 20 reported incidents:

• October 2021: Abuse at Camp Nou; police could not identify the suspect.
• March 2022: Mallorca fans directed “monkey” noises at him; authorities ruled it was not “criminally significant.”
• January 2023: A mannequin wearing his shirt was hung from a bridge. Four people received commuted prison sentences.
• May 2023: The “Mestalla Turning Point.” Three Valencia fans were later sentenced to eight months in prison. This was the first sentence of its kind in Spanish history.
• September 2024: Four people were arrested for inciting an anonymous hate campaign on social media.

A Global Symbol of Resistance

Despite the toll, Vinicius refuses to be a victim. In June 2024, he declared himself an “executioner of racists.” He views his legal battles as a victory for all Black people in sport.

Authorities are slowly toughening protocols, but the Lisbon incident proves much work remains. Vinicius continues to fight twice as hard to be accepted. He remains a symbol of resistance while still being the most exciting player on the pitch.