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. == 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. On 11 October 2023, he was named by the British newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide. === 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. Benfica also officially announced the transfer, with Prestianni signing a contract until 2029. His release clause was reportedly set at €100 million. He initially played for Benfica B in the Liga Portugal 2. On 17 May 2024, he made his senior debut as a substitute in a 1–1 away draw against Rio Ave. He scored his first goal for the club in a 5–0 away win over Tirsense in the Taça de Portugal semi-final on 9 April 2025. == International career == Prestianni has represented Argentina at under-17 level. In March 2023, TNT sports 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. In November 2025, Prestianni received his first call-up for the Argentina senior team for a friendly match against Angola. He debuted in the match against Angola on 14 November. == Personal life == Born and raised in Argentina, Prestianni is of Italian descent. == Controversy == On 17 February 2026, the Champions League knockout phase play-offs tie game between Benfica and Real Madrid was temporarily halted for 10 minutes, after Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior accused Prestianni of racially abusing him. Vinicius scored and celebrated by the corner flag and was booked for over celebrating, which led to Benfica players confronting him. During this confrontation, Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt and allegedly said "monkey" on five occasions. Following the altercation Vinícius approached match referee François Letexier and reported the incident, with Letexier pausing the game. It eventually resumed and finished in a 1–0 home defeat, with Prestianni stating post-match that Vinícius had "regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard." UEFA announced the day after the incident they were opening an investigation to "investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour." == Career statistics == === Club === As of match played 17 February 2026 == Honours == Benfica: Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2025 == References == == External links == Gianluca Prestianni at Soccerway