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Benefica winger Gianluca Prestiani will miss Argentina’s first two games at this summer’s World Cup if selected as his ban for insulting Vinicius Junior has been extended worldwide.
Prestiani, 20, was He was handed a six-match ban by UEFA. After Vinicius admitted using homophobic language during their Champions League match against Real Madrid in February last month.
Having already served a provisional one-game suspension, he will be suspended for two more games; The remaining 3 games will be banned for two years.
Football’s international governing body FIFA has accepted Uefa’s request for a global ban.
Prestiani has only played once for Argentina, in a friendly against Angola in November 2025.
Vinicius initially accused Prestiani of racial assault, which Prestiani denied.
If found guilty of racist abuse, he could have been banned from European competition for at least 10 games.
If Prestiani is not selected in Argentina’s World Cup squad, he will serve his ban in the Champions League or Europa League next season, with Benfica still fighting for European Cup qualification.
While Prestiani was talking to Vinicius, he lifted his shirt to cover his mouth, and it has since been confirmed that Players may be given a red card. If you do this at the World Cup.
