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Prestianni goes viral for touching gesture as he moves beyond Vinícius controversy
Gianluca Prestianni is back in the spotlight, but this time for a gesture that has nothing to do with his controversy involving Vinícius. The Argentine scored in Benfica's 3-0 victory over Marítimo and was named Player of the Match, but when receiving the award, he wanted Leandro Barreiro, who scored the other two goals, to share the moment with him.
Prestianni is enjoying an outstanding run. His goal against Marítimo took his tally to six goals and one assist in eight appearances, the best start to a season of his career.
However, it was what happened after the match that particularly caught the attention.
Why did Prestianni share his award with Leandro Barreiro?
Benfica defeated Marítimo 3-0, with Prestianni scoring once and Leandro Barreiro netting a brace.
Despite being named Player of the Match, the Argentine did not want to enjoy the recognition alone.
When it was time to receive the award, Prestianni asked Barreiro to join him, recognizing his teammate's decisive contribution to the victory.
The gesture showed a different side of the Argentine after months in which his name had been associated with one of last season's biggest controversies.
Prestianni moves beyond Vinícius controversy
The Benfica player's impressive start comes after a 2025/26 campaign marked by the controversial incident involving Vinícius during a Champions League meeting between Benfica and Real Madrid.
UEFA handed Prestianni a six-match suspension for “homophobic insults” directed at the Brazilian, in a case that sparked widespread controversy.
One of the defining images from the confrontation showed Prestianni covering his mouth while speaking to his opponent.
The episode later extended into a wider discussion about the laws of the game.
What is the so-called “Vinícius-Prestianni Law”?
The controversy eventually became associated with a new IFAB disciplinary rule known as the “Vinícius Law” or “Vinícius-Prestianni Law.”
The rule allows referees to show a straight red card to a player who deliberately covers his mouth with a hand, arm or shirt during a confrontation or argument with an opponent.
The measure is intended to prevent such behavior from making it more difficult to identify and subsequently investigate potential insults during matches.
