Ryan Mendes, the talismanic captain of the Cape Verde football team, is under investigation for rape in New Zealand.
Mendes is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who worked for the team as a translator. Cape Verde, who made history by advancing to the knockouts of the FIFA World Cup 2026, were in New Zealand in March for the FIFA Series.
The survivor is a native of Brazil. She alleged in her complaint that Ryan Mendes came into her hotel room in Auckland and physically and sexually assaulted her. According to the complaint, after the 36-year-old striker entered her hotel room and attacked her, she she reported the incident to at least three officials from Cape Verde football board. However, none of them ever responded.
She said she was invited to a meeting in a hotel room following a match against Chile on March 27. However, she decided to return to her room when it became clear that it was a social gathering rather than an official meeting.
It was then that Mendes reportedly decided to follow her. Mendes knocked at her door and allegedly forced his way into the room when it was opened. According to a statement she gave to the New Zealand Police, the player choked her, punched her, bit her, and proceeded to rape her.
The woman reportedly underwent a sexual assault examination after making her complaint official, Brazilian news reports said.
The complainant was able to submit photos of her injuries to the police. The medical examination later found lesions on her vagina along with several bruises on her breasts, neck and lips, the news reports said. The results were sent to the New Zealand Police on April 10.
