In a stunning and rare move for a club icon, Luisão (Anderson Luís da Silva) has publicly condemned Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, accusing the young winger of lying about the alleged racial abuse of Vinícius Júnior.
While Benfica and manager José Mourinho have spent the last 24 hours defending Prestianni and accusing Vinícius of “provoking” the fans, Luisão—who made over 500 appearances for the Lisbon giants—shattered the club’s united front with a blistering Instagram statement on Wednesday.
The Legend’s Verdict: “I Am Ashamed”
Luisão, a fellow Brazilian and a towering figure in Benfica’s history, did not mince words regarding the 20-year-old Argentine’s denial of the incident.
“This jersey is too big. I love Benfica, it is my second skin, but you must be worthy of wearing the sacred mantle. And this statement from Prestianni makes everything worse because it is a lie.”
Key points from Luisão’s intervention:
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Confirmation of the Act: Luisão explicitly labeled the incident a “racist act” and expressed deep shame that his club was associated with it.
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The “Nobody” Comment: He directed a sharp personal attack at Prestianni’s status, calling him a “nobody” compared to the weight of the Benfica jersey.
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The Motivation: Luisão argued that protecting the club’s image is more important than blindly defending a player who has violated the club’s values.
The Pressure Mounts on UEFA
Luisão’s statement is a nightmare for Benfica’s legal team, as it undermines their official defense that “nothing happened.”
With FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressing his “shock” and Thierry Henry calling out the “suspicious” behavior of covering one’s mouth, the spotlight on UEFA’s upcoming lip-reading analysis has intensified. If the investigation confirms Luisão’s “truth,” Prestianni could face a landmark ban.