Gianluca Prestianni

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Prestianniand the second or maternal family name is Gross.

Gianluca Prestianni

Personal information
Full name	Gianluca Prestianni Gross [1]
Date of birth	(2006-01-31) 31 January 2006 (age 20) [1]
Place of birth	Ciudadela, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) [1]
Position	Winger
Team information
Current team	Benfica
Number	25
Youth career
	Vélez Sarsfield
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2024	Vélez Sarsfield	36	(2)
2024–	Benfica B	11	(2)
2024–	Benfica	27	(2)
International career‡
2022	Argentina U17	8	(3)
2025–	Argentina U20	6	(0)
2025–	Argentina	1	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Argentina FIFA U-20 World Cup Runner-up 2025 Chile
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:37, 13 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:04, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

Gianluca Prestianni Gross (born 31 January 2006) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Argentina national team. ^[2]

Club career

Vélez Sarsfield

On 24 May 2022, Prestianni made his professional debut for Vélez Sarsfield in the Copa Libertadores in a match against Estudiantes. ^{[3] [4]} On 11 October 2023, he was named by the British newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide. ^[5]

Benfica

On 22 December 2023, Vélez announced that they had reached an agreement with Portuguese club Benfica for the sale of Prestianni. The deal commanded a fee of €9 million with €2 million in add-ons and 85% of his economic rights. However, the contract was set to be completed only after Prestianni's eighteenth birthday on 31 January 2024. ^[6] Benfica also officially announced the transfer, with Prestianni signing a contract until 2029. ^[2] His release clause was reportedly set at €100 million. ^[7]

Prestianni was accused by Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior of racially abusing him in their 17 February 2026 Champions League knockout phase play-offs tie. Prestianni appeared to pull his shirt over his mouth before saying something to Vinícius, allegedly "monkey", prompting Vinícius to report the incident to match referee François Letexier and causing the game to be delayed 10 minutes. A member of the Benfica coaching staff was shown a red card during the delay, and the game ultimately ended 1–0 in Real Madrid's favour. ^[8]

International career

Prestianni has represented Argentina at under-17 level. ^[9] In March 2023, multiple media^{[ specify ]} reported that Roberto Mancini had an interest in contacting Prestianni to join the Italy national football team, weeks after a similar move was successfully completed for fellow Italian–Argentine Mateo Retegui. ^{[10] [11]}

In November 2025, Prestianni received his first call-up for the Argentina senior team for a friendly match against Angola. ^[12] He debuted in the match against Angola on 14 November. ^[13]

Personal life

Born and raised in Argentina, Prestianni is of Italian descent. ^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 February 2026 ^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vélez Sarsfield	2022	Argentine Primera División	5	0	0	0	—		1 [c]	0	—		6	0
	2023	Argentine Primera División	31	2	2	1	—		—		—		33	3
	Total		36	2	2	1	—		1	0	—		39	3
Benfica B	2023–24	Liga Portugal 2	6	1	—		—		—		—		6	1
	2024–25	Liga Portugal 2	5	1	—		—		—		—		5	1
	Total		11	2	—		—		—		—		11	2
Benfica	2023–24	Primeira Liga	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2024–25	Primeira Liga	8	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	4 [d]	0	14	1
	2025–26	Primeira Liga	18	2	2	0	2	0	7 [e]	0	1 [f]	0	30	2
	Total		27	2	4	1	2	0	7	0	5	0	45	3
Career total			74	6	6	2	2	0	8	0	5	0	95	8

1. Includes Copa Argentina, Taça de Portugal
2. Includes Taça da Liga
3. Appearance in Copa Libertadores
4. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
5. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
6. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

Honours

• Benfica: Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2025 ^[16]

References

1. "FIFA Club World Cup 25 − Squad List: SL Benfica (POR)" (PDF). FIFA. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
2. "Prestianni reforça o Benfica". SL Benfica (in Portuguese). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
3. "Vélez Sarsfield vs. Estudiantes". Soccerway. Platform Group. 25 May 2022.
4. "Gianluca Prestianni, el juvenil que se peleó con Brasil y se metió en la historia de Vélez Sarsfield". TyC Sports (in Spanish). 24 May 2022.
5. Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
6. "Vélez detalha negócio com o Benfica por Gianluca Prestianni" [Vélez details deal with Benfica for Gianluca Prestianni]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
7. "Mercado Benfica: Prestianni: o senhor €100 milhões" [Benfica Market: Prestianni: Mister €100 million]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
8. "Benfica vs Real Madrid halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius Jr racism allegation following incident with Gianluca Prestianni". Sky Sports . 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
9. "Le provocazioni dei giovani brasiliani che hanno scatenato la lotta con la squadra argentina dopo la finale del torneo U17 a Montaigu". Infobae (in Italian). 18 April 2022.
10. "Prestianni, LA 'Piccola Pulce' Che Potrebbe Seguire Retegui in Nazionale". Cronache di Spogliatoio (in Italian). 28 March 2023.
11. "Los cuatro argentinos que sigue Roberto Mancini tras la convocatoria de Retegui". TNT Sports (in Spanish). 28 March 2023.
12. Gonçalves, Marco (6 November 2025). "Prestianni estreia-se nos convocados da seleção principal da Argentina" [Prestianni makes his debut in the Argentina national team squad call-up]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Global Media Group . Retrieved 7 November 2025.
13. "Los cuatro jugadores que debutaron en la selección argentina en el último amistoso del año ante Angola". Infobae (in Spanish). 14 November 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
14. Bernabei, Simone (24 March 2023). "Da Capaldo e Valentini a Maestro Puch: tutti gli oriundi nel mirino di Mancini per l'Italia". TuttoMercatoWeb (in Italian). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
15. Gianluca Prestianni at Soccerway
16. "Águia letal na hora de levar a Supertaça". S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.

External links

• Gianluca Prestianni at Soccerway