The Argentine Gianluca Prestianni, a forward for the Portuguese club Benfica, made headlines in European newspapers in recent hours after being accused by Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe of making racist remarks during the recent Champions League match.

The young player, aged 20, found himself at the center of a major controversy, despite being considered one of the most promising talents in Argentine football in recent years.

Bristiani was born in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and progressed through the Vélez Sarsfield academy from his childhood, before becoming the youngest player to represent the club's first team at the age of 16. In 2023, Benfica succeeded in signing him for around 9 million euros with additional financial incentives, officially joining the team in January 2024 amid interest from several European and Argentine clubs.

Bristiani is characterized by his short stature, great speed, and direct attacking style, which has led to comparisons with players like Ángel Di María and Lionel Messi in their early days. He also received his first call-up to the Argentina national team for a friendly match against Angola, while Benfica set a high release clause in his contract of up to 100 million euros, indicating significant confidence in his talent.

However, the player's career was not without controversy, as he was sent off multiple times in his early career and was previously involved in an incident of assaulting a Brazilian player during the Montaigu Youth Tournament in 2022.

With the escalation of the accusations of racism, the future of Bristiani and his public image have become the subject of widespread discussion, awaiting the outcomes of the investigations and official responses from Benfica and the relevant authorities.