In the midst of the joy over their historic qualification to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup and days before their match against the Argentine National Team, the Cape Verde national team received news that shook the entire squad. Their captain, Ryan Mendes, is being investigated by New Zealand police after being reported for an alleged rape that occurred during the friendly tour the African team undertook in March.
The complaint was filed by a Brazilian translator, a resident of New Zealand, who had been hired by the New Zealand Football Federation (NZF) to serve as an interpreter and provide assistance to the Cape Verdean delegation during the FIFA Series.
According to the complainant’s testimony, the incident occurred on March 27, hours after Cape Verde’s 4-2 defeat to Chile. The woman stated that she was called to a private room in the hotel where the delegation was staying because she believed she had to perform work-related tasks. Upon realizing it was a party, she decided to return to her room, where shortly after someone knocked on the door. Thinking it was again a work requirement, she opened it and, according to her statements, Mendes entered by force and abused her.
After receiving care at a clinic specializing in victims of sexual violence, a forensic examination was performed which, according to reports, detected genital injuries, bruises on various parts of the body, and other injuries consistent with her account.
«New Zealand police confirm that a complaint, filed on April 10, 2026, in central Auckland, is being investigated,» authorities said in a statement sent to the New Zealand Herald, without providing further details on the progress of the case.
In May, the NZF informed FIFA about the investigation after the case became public. Andrew Pragnell, the entity’s executive director, explained that the international body was already aware of the situation and was «closely monitoring the case.»
So far, neither the Cape Verdean Football Federation (FCF) nor the player, who currently plays for Igdir FK in the Turkish second division, have made public statements about the complaint. FIFA, for its part, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
The scandal comes as a cold shower for the Cape Verde squad, which is preparing to face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the World Cup round of 16. Meanwhile, New Zealand justice is advancing in the investigation, and the football world awaits a resolution that could change the course of the tournament.
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Para mí esto es una vergüenza, Ryan Mendes otro negro violador manchando el fútbol. Yo creo que merece cadena perpetua y que lo deporten ya a África. Argentina tiene que pasarles por encima a estos delincuentes, vamos Selección a barrer con esa escoria.
esto es el patriarcado con patas maldito ryan mendez otro futbolista q cree q puede pasar x encima de las mujeres para mi cabo verde es un pais de mierda bancando esto y la fifa mirando pal otro lado justicia ya no al mundial machista