Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes investigated by New Zealand police over rape allegation

Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is under police investigation in New Zealand over an allegation of rape, according to a report by the New Zealand Herald. The 36-year-old, his country’s record goalscorer with 100 international caps, has not been charged.

The woman, a Brazilian national who worked with the team during a FIFA Series event in Auckland earlier this year, has alleged that Mendes forced his way into her hotel room before raping her. New Zealand authorities had previously been reported in May to be investigating an unnamed Cape Verde footballer; Mendes has now been identified as the subject of that inquiry.

In a statement provided to The Athletic, a FIFA spokesperson said the organisation takes “any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously” and confirmed it is in contact with New Zealand authorities. FIFA added that its independent judicial bodies do not comment on whether allegations have been received or investigations are underway, and that any information would be shared “at their discretion.”

Mendes has featured in all three of Cape Verde’s matches at the World Cup, where the African nation have drawn against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia to progress unbeaten from the group stage to the last 32. He is expected to start when Cape Verde face Argentina in Miami on 3 July.

Mendes is not the only player at the tournament facing such allegations. Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ghana’s Thomas Partey are also under scrutiny. Partey was charged by London’s Metropolitan Police in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault; he was denied entry to Canada for Ghana’s opening group game against Panama but subsequently played against England in Boston.