Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes cleared of rape allegation
Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes has been cleared of a rape allegation in New Zealand, with police confirming that he will face no criminal charges following the conclusion of their investigation.
The allegation attracted international attention during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when reports emerged shortly before Cape Verde’s Round of 32 meeting with Argentina on 3 July.
The alleged incident reportedly took place on 27 March 2026 at a hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, following Cape Verde’s 4-2 defeat to Chile in a FIFA Series friendly. The matter was formally reported to Auckland City Police on 10 April, but only became widely publicised during the World Cup.
Despite the controversy, Mendes continued to captain Cape Verde at the tournament, including their encounter with Argentina, which they lost 3-2 after extra time.
New Zealand Police announced on 4 November 2026 that their investigation had been completed and that the allegation had not been substantiated.
A 40-year-old woman has instead been charged with making a false statement under New Zealand’s Crimes Act. She is expected to appear before the Auckland District Court on 10 November.
Read Also: Brazilian Woman Accuses Cape Verde Captain of Rape During FIFA Series
Police said the decision to prosecute followed months of investigative work by their Adult Sexual Assault Team.
Mendes, 36, is Cape Verde’s most-capped player, with 103 international appearances and 22 goals. He is also the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.
The development brings an important update to a case that attracted significant attention during Cape Verde’s historic first appearance at the World Cup.
About the Author
Karrel Hamutenya is a senior sports journalist at The Updated World, with more than five years of experience reporting on local sport in Namibia and international sports news.His work covers match reports, transfer updates, and exclusive interviews with athletes, providing fans with deeper insight into the game and the people behind it.
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