Fresh controversy has hit the Cape Verde national football team camp after team captain Ryan Mendes reportedly came under police investigation over allegations of sexual assault involving a team translator.
The incident is said to have happened during Cape Verde’s trip to New Zealand earlier this year, where the national team participated in international football fixtures ahead of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to reports, a Brazilian woman hired to work as a translator for the team filed a complaint accusing the 36-year-old footballer of attacking her inside a hotel where members of the delegation were lodged during the trip.
The woman reportedly alleged that the football star entered her hotel room unexpectedly after one of Cape Verde’s matches and physically assaulted her before the alleged sexual attack took place.
Sources close to the investigation said the matter was officially reported to authorities in Auckland, with police launching an investigation shortly after receiving the complaint.
Investigators are said to have obtained hotel security footage and other evidence as part of ongoing efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the allegations.
Reports also suggest the complainant had earlier reached out to officials connected to Cape Verde’s football authorities, claiming attempts were made to report the matter internally before the case gained wider international attention.
The controversy has now cast a shadow over Cape Verde’s impressive World Cup campaign after the African nation made history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time in the country’s football history.
So far, Ryan Mendes has not publicly responded to the allegations, while football authorities in Cape Verde have remained largely silent as investigations continue.
FIFA has reportedly acknowledged awareness of the situation and confirmed communication with authorities handling the case, although no disciplinary action has been announced at this stage.
The development comes at a difficult moment for Cape Verde as the team prepares for a crucial World Cup knockout encounter, with the off-field controversy now threatening to overshadow what had been a historic tournament run for the small African nation.