Solidarity Against Racism: Mbappé and Teammates Support Vinicius

omidbasir- Kylian Mbappé has consistently shown his solidarity with Vinicius Jr., and during their recent match against Benfica in Lisbon, he made his support even more evident. The French forward was among the first to defend his Brazilian teammate on the pitch. Following Vinicius’s accusation of racism against Benfica’s Prestianni, Kylian boldly confronted the player, repeatedly shouting, “You are a racist! You are a racist!” as captured by Movistar + cameras.

Additionally, Mbappé took to social media, specifically ‘X’, to express his support for Vinicius. His message read, “Dance, Vini, and please never stop. No one will dictate what we can or cannot do.”

In a post-match media appearance, Mbappé reiterated that they stood firmly by Vinicius’s side, stating, “I asked Vini what he wanted to do. Whatever he chooses, we will support him as a team. We will never leave Vini alone. We have backed our player. If something like this happens to you, how would you feel?” He added that he personally witnessed player number 25 calling Vini a monkey on five occasions.

Real Madrid’s coach, Arbeloa, echoed Kylian’s sentiments, asserting their readiness to abandon the match if necessary. “We must have zero tolerance for racism; it cannot be allowed in a football field in 2026. I fully believe what Vini has reported. I do not think he would fabricate such an accusation, and I will never question his words. I only asked if he wanted to continue playing. We stood by him, and whatever decision he made, we would be together. We must always support him, and we are a team. I’ve always said that we ride together and we die together.”

Valverde and Tchouaméni also came forward to defend Vinicius, emphasizing the severity of the insult. “Racism is a very serious issue, and it has happened too often. As teammates, it’s crucial to help and support him. I doubt there was not a camera that caught this,” remarked the Uruguayan.

They were not alone in their support; the Brazilian Football Confederation also issued a statement backing Vinicius. “Racism is a crime. It is unacceptable and has no place in football or anywhere else. Vini, you are not alone,” the statement began.

“Your decision to activate the protocol demonstrates remarkable courage and dignity. We are proud of you. We will remain steadfast in the fight against all forms of discrimination. We stand with you. Always,” it concluded.