In a devastating blow to his World Cup ambitions, Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni now faces a worldwide ban from football after admitting to homophobic conduct toward Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. The suspension, which has been extended globally by FIFA, will sideline the Argentine for his nation's opening two World Cup matches this summer—if he even makes the squad.

The trouble began during a Champions League clash on February 17 in Lisbon. After Vinicius Jr scored for Real Madrid, Prestianni was caught on camera covering his mouth while speaking to the Brazilian. UEFA's disciplinary body initially handed down a six-match suspension on April 24, following Prestianni's admission of using homophobic language. Notably, an allegation of racial abuse against Vinicius was not proven.

Here's how the ban breaks down: three matches are suspended for two years, one has already been served during the second leg between the teams, and the remaining two—plus the suspended portion—will now be enforced worldwide. This means Prestianni will miss official international matches, though pre-tournament friendlies remain unaffected.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating the disciplinary committee extended the ban "in accordance with article 70 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code." For Prestianni, who has just one senior cap for Argentina, the global extension makes a World Cup call-up highly unlikely. Instead, the suspension will likely be served during next season's Champions League campaign.

This incident has also sparked a broader rule change. In late February, FIFA proposed that players caught covering their mouths when confronting opponents should be shown a red card. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) unanimously approved this measure last week, giving competitions the flexibility to apply it going forward. For Prestianni, the timing couldn't be worse—his actions have not only derailed his World Cup dreams but also contributed to a stricter crackdown on unsportsmanlike conduct across the sport.