Prestianni ‘left out’ of World Cup over Vini Jr. case

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·31 May 2026

Prestianni ‘left out’ of World Cup over Vini Jr. case

Gianluca Prestianni’s World Cup hopes may have been derailed by fallout from an incident involving Vinícius Júnior.

AS reports that the episode weighed on Lionel Scaloni’s final decision to omit the Benfica winger.

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The case centred on an alleged racist insult during Benfica’s meeting with Real Madrid in the Champions League, which triggered a disciplinary process.

He received a six-match suspension, with three games suspended for two years. FIFA later accepted UEFA’s request to extend the sanction worldwide, allowing it to be served in club and national-team fixtures.

With no World Cup call-up, Prestianni must now serve the ban in European competition with Benfica. The 20-year-old will be an option for the Europa League second qualifying round ties on 23 and 30 July.

Source: Glorioso 1904