Gianluca Prestianni’s form and market value have surged since Vinicius Junior accused the Argentine of directing racist abuse at him during a Champions League encounter in February 2026, while Vinicius’s attacking output and valuation have declined.
Prestianni’s rise at Benfica
Prestianni has become one of Benfica’s standout players, rebuilt his reputation on the pitch and attracted attention from major European clubs.
On Sunday, Prestianni scored a superb strike against Estrela Amadora that flew into the top corner. His goal helped seal a Benfica win, with Fámedes scoring the other goal.
League and Europa League numbers
Gianluca Prestianni has scored 7 goals and provided 4 assists in the Portuguese league this season for Benfica, according to the Spanish newspaper Sport.
Prestianni has added 5 goals and 2 assists in the Europa League this season, according to the Spanish newspaper Sport.
Argentina call-up and market interest
Prestianni’s form with Benfica led Lionel Scaloni to call him into the current Argentina squad for two friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica.
In the previous international break, Prestianni scored one goal and provided one assist against Burkina Faso for Argentina. Prestianni is aiming to secure his place in the Argentina team and prove he can perform against stronger opposition.
Prestianni’s market value has risen by around 240% since the February 2026 incident. Some Argentine outlets are talking up the possibility that Benfica could cash in on Prestianni in the summer for a figure approaching 100 million euros.
Record na Hora reported that Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich could both move for Gianluca Prestianni given his current form.
Vinicius’s declining figures
Vinicius Junior finished last season with 22 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. In the current campaign, he has one goal and three assists in his first eight matches.
Vinicius Junior’s expected goals average has dropped from 1.05 to 0.59 per 90 minutes, according to figures from Opta and Squawka. His shots on target have fallen from 1.49 to 0.83 per 90 minutes, according to figures from Opta and Squawka.
Vinicius Junior has become a constant target of criticism. Real Madrid have improved in his absence during his four-match ban following a red card against Villarreal.
Vinicius Junior’s market value has dropped from 150 million euros to 130 million euros, according to data from Transfermarkt. The 20 million euro fall represents a 13.3% decrease, according to data from Transfermarkt.
