Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Cape Verde's historic and fairy-tale run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been overshadowed by a shocking off-field scandal, with team captain Ryan Mendes under active investigation by New Zealand police over allegations that he raped a Brazilian woman who was working as the team's translator during a tournament in Auckland in March 2026. The allegations, first reported by Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, have cast a dark shadow over the Blue Sharks' remarkable campaign just days before their Round of 32 clash against defending champions Argentina.
The complainant, a Brazilian national living in New Zealand, was hired by New Zealand Football as an interpreter and operational liaison for the Cape Verde delegation during the FIFA Series tournament held in Auckland in March 2026. According to the complaint reviewed by Globo, the incident allegedly occurred on the night of March 27, 2026, hours after Cape Verde's friendly match against Chile at Eden Park.
The woman told police that after the match, she was invited to what she believed was a work-related meeting at the team hotel. Upon arrival, she discovered it was a social gathering and returned to her room. Shortly after, she heard knocking at her door. When she opened it, Mendes allegedly forced his way into the room, choked her, punched her, bit her, and proceeded to rape her, according to her statement to New Zealand police.
The woman underwent a sexual assault examination at a clinic for survivors of sexual violence. The medical report found lesions on her vagina, as well as multiple bruises on her breasts, neck, and lips. She provided police with photographs of her injuries, which were later shared with Globo. The results of the forensic examination were sent to New Zealand Police on April 10.
The woman reported the alleged assault to at least three officials linked to the Cape Verde football setup but received no response. On May 10, she and her husband sent complaints to the Cape Verdean Football Federation and FIFA with the medical report and evidence, requesting that Mendes be barred from participating in the World Cup. She told Globo she never received a response from FIFA.
New Zealand Police confirmed that a complaint was filed in April and remains under active investigation. Authorities have secured CCTV footage from the Auckland hotel and are awaiting the results of forensic examinations before deciding whether to file criminal charges. No arrest has been made, and Mendes has not been formally charged. Under New Zealand law, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The New Zealand Herald, which first reported the investigation in May, confirmed the identity of the player through extensive documentation and multiple sources close to the matter. FIFA acknowledged the investigation in a statement, saying it treats "any allegation of misconduct" seriously and is in contact with New Zealand authorities, but declined further comment.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Mendes has remained with the Cape Verde squad and captained the team throughout its historic World Cup campaign. The 36-year-old forward, who plays for Turkish club Igdir, has featured in all three of Cape Verde's group-stage matches. He has played all but 19 minutes of the team's World Cup minutes so far.
Cape Verde, a tiny island nation with a population of just over 500,000, has been one of the feel-good stories of the tournament. The Blue Sharks held former world champions Spain and Uruguay to draws to qualify for the knockout stage, becoming the first World Cup debutants to reach the Round of 32 since Slovakia in 2010. They are the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup knockout rounds. Cape Verde will face Argentina on July 3 in Miami. Whether Mendes will be available to lead his team onto the pitch remains uncertain as the investigation continues.
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