New Zealand police are investigating an allegation of rape against Ryan Mendes, the captain of Cape Verde’s national football team, following a complaint filed by a Brazilian interpreter who worked with the squad during a FIFA friendly tournament in Auckland in March. The inquiry was opened on 10 April, authorities confirmed, but no charges have been laid and the player has not been publicly identified by police, in line with local privacy laws.

The complainant, a Brazilian national residing in New Zealand on a work visa, was employed by the New Zealand Football Federation to provide Portuguese-language interpretation and logistical support to the visiting Cape Verdean delegation. According to her account, as published by Brazilian media, she was invited to a team gathering after a match against Chile on 27 March, but returned to her room feeling unwell. She alleges that Mendes later knocked on her door, entered, and subjected her to a violent physical assault—including choking, punches, and bites—before raping her. Medical reports, cited by the same outlets, document bruising to her neck, lips, legs, and torso, as well as genital lesions. She photographed her injuries and underwent a forensic examination; police have also collected hotel CCTV footage and are awaiting final forensic results.

The woman and her husband sent extrajudicial notices to the Cape Verdean Football Federation and FIFA on 10 May, demanding Mendes’s exclusion from the World Cup, and later filed a complaint through FIFA’s safeguarding system. They say they have received no response. FIFA has declined to comment, and the Cape Verdean federation has not issued a statement. Mendes, 36, who plays for a Turkish second-division club, is his country’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. He has started all three of Cape Verde’s group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, where the team has reached the round of 16 for the first time in its history, and is expected to face Argentina in Miami.

Brazilian media, which first reported the allegations, have detailed the evidence gathered, while outlets across Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East have noted the absence of any public comment from the player or his representatives. New Zealand police say the investigation is ongoing and could take several months; under the country’s Crimes Act, a conviction for sexual violence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. No extradition treaty exists between New Zealand and Cape Verde. The inquiry remains open, and no charges have been filed.