Vinicius Jr cries while talking about racism during a press conference in 2024
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague was at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday as Real Madrid's Champions League play-off tie at Benfica was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius Jr reported alleged racist abuse.
It marked the 20th time Vinicius alleges he has been the subject of abuse during his eight years at Real Madrid.
Here, Balague gives his perspective and details how the 25-year-old forward has become a global symbol of resistance against discrimination.
Football should have been revelling in a masterpiece last night - Vinicius scoring a goal so outrageous it deserved to dominate every headline.
