The feel-good story of the 2026 World Cup just took an ugly turn. Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes has been accused of sexually assaulting the team’s Brazilian translator during a pre-tournament trip to New Zealand, according to Brazilian outlet Globo.
The 36-year-old forward allegedly attacked the woman in her hotel room in Auckland back in March. She told police that Mendes choked her, punched her, bit her and raped her after forcing his way into the room.
The woman said she reported the incident to at least three officials from Cape Verde’s soccer federation and never heard back. She also sent complaints to FIFA and the Cape Verdean Football Federation on May 10, complete with medical evidence, asking that Mendes be barred from playing in the World Cup. FIFA confirmed to The Independent that it’s in contact with New Zealand authorities but won’t comment further.
A shocking accusation against a national hero
This is about as dark as it gets for a tournament that had been shaping up as a fairy tale. Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockout rounds, held Spain to a 0-0 draw and became everyone’s favorite underdog. Mendes was the captain, the face of that run. Now he’s facing a rape allegation that threatens to redefine everything.
The translator told Globo she was hired by Cape Verde’s team for the FIFA Series in New Zealand. After a match against Chile on March 27, she was invited to a meeting in a hotel room. She said she showed up thinking it was official business but found a social gathering instead. She went back to her room. Mendes allegedly followed her, knocked, and when she opened the door, forced his way in.
Photos provided to Globo show bruising on her neck. She went to a clinic for sexual violence survivors, got a forensic exam. The clinic found bruises on her neck, breasts and lips, plus two painful lesions in a genital exam. Those results were sent to New Zealand police on April 10.
No response from officials
Here’s the part that sticks with you. The woman said she flagged this to Cape Verde soccer officials multiple times. Nothing. She and her husband sent a formal complaint to the federation and FIFA with the police report and medical documents, asking them to keep Mendes out of the World Cup. Nothing from FIFA either, she said.
The New Zealand Herald reported last month that a sexual assault involving a Cape Verde team member was under investigation but didn’t name Mendes. Globo reached out to the Cape Verde Football Association and was told the federation would not comment on the complaint. The Independent has also asked the New Zealand Police for comment.
FIFA’s statement was careful: “We take any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and have a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident.” Which is a polite way of saying they’re not saying much yet.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde is still playing in the World Cup. Mendes is still their captain. And the woman who says he raped her is still waiting for someone to do something about it.
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