Cape Verde national football team captain, Ryan Mendes, is under police investigation in New Zealand over an alleged sexual assault involving a translator who worked with the national team, according to Brazilian media outlet Globo Esporte.
New Zealand Police confirmed an active investigation but have not publicly named the player, citing local privacy laws. No criminal charges have been filed as authorities await forensic analysis and final medical reports.
The allegation reportedly stems from an incident said to have occurred on March 27, 2026, at a hotel in Auckland during Cape Verde’s participation in the FIFA Friendly Series.
The complainant, a Brazilian translator contracted by the Cape Verde Football Federation, accused Mendes of entering her hotel room and assaulting her.
Investigators are reported to have obtained hotel security footage and medical documentation indicating injuries, which are being reviewed as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The complainant and her husband allegedly urged both the Cape Verde Football Federation and FIFA to exclude Mendes from the national squad during the investigation, but no action was taken.
The case emerges during Cape Verde’s ongoing World Cup campaign, where the team has reached the Round of 32 and is scheduled to face Argentina national football team in the next stage of the competition.
