Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is under investigation by police in New Zealand over allegations he raped a woman in March.
According to multiple international reports, including by the New Zealand Herald, which was the first media outlet to report on the case and has confirmed the player’s identity through extensive documentation and multiple sources, Mendes — his country’s all-time top scorer — has been accused of raping a Brazilian woman who had been hired to work with the team during a FIFA Series event earlier this year.
The woman, according to multiple reports, has alleged to authorities in New Zealand that Mendes forced his way into her room before raping her.
Pictures of the woman’s alleged injuries have appeared in the various media reports regarding the allegations as well as surfacing on social media. Mendes remains under investigation and has not been charged.
The Athletic previously reported in May that authorities in New Zealand were investigating an alleged incident involving a then-unnamed Cape Verde player.
