Ryan Mendes, captain of Cape Verde’s history-making national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, is reportedly under investigation in New Zealand over allegations that he raped a Brazilian woman earlier this year.
According to reports, the alleged rape occurred in March when the woman was serving as an interpreter hired by the New Zealand Football Federation to assist the Portuguese-speaking Cape Verdean team during the FIFA Series hosted in Auckland.
News outlet Globo reported that after a match against Chile on March 27, the 36-year-old entered the woman’s hotel room without permission before Mr Mendes allegedly proceeded to physically assault her by choking, punching and biting her, and then raped her.
The Brazilian, who was staying in the same hotel as the Cape Verdean contingent during the tournament, subsequently underwent medical examinations, and the results were sent to the police on April 10.
The woman also told Globo that the clinic found bruises on her neck, breasts, lips, and a genital exam found “two circular lesions, painful to the touch”. She also provided photos showing bruises on her neck to the news outlet.
New Zealand police confirmed an investigation into the allegation was underway, adding that officers were reviewing CCTV footage, medical reports, and other evidence before deciding whether to bring charges, according to Marca.
The woman and her husband reportedly sent complaints to the Cape Verdean Football Federation and FIFA about the case with evidence of the alleged rape on May 10, requesting that Mr Mendes be banned from playing at the World Cup.
