Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes ‘under investigation’ for rape by New Zealand police | OneFootball

According to Globo, New Zealand police are said to have opened a rape investigation into Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes. A Brazilian woman has reportedly filed a complaint.

The complainant worked as an interpreter for the Cape Verde delegation during an Oceania tour in March 2026. She had been engaged by the New Zealand federation for friendlies against Chile and New Zealand.

In her account, on the evening of 27 March, while staying at the same hotel as the squad, Mendes entered her room, strangled her, punched her and bit her as she tried to fight back, then raped her.

She provided photos of her injuries. On 10 May, she and her husband sent extrajudicial notifications to the Cape Verde federation and FIFA, including her account, supporting material and a request for Mendes to be excluded from the World Cup.

They say they have had no response. The report added that in a WhatsApp exchange, a Cape Verde federation official told her it was a personal issue for Ryan, implying it did not concern the federation.

Mendes, 36, is his country’s most-capped player with 99 appearances and record scorer with 22 goals. He has played Cape Verde’s first three World Cup matches. The Blue Sharks face Argentina in the last 32 on 4 July, kick-off midnight French time.

Source: L'Équipe