Cape Verde Captain Ryan Mendes Cleared of Rape Allegation

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes has been formally cleared by New Zealand police of a rape allegation that shadowed him for months and flared every time his national team stepped into the spotlight.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard confirmed on Friday that an allegation of sexual assault at a central Auckland hotel in March “had not been substantiated” after a lengthy investigation by the Adult Sexual Assault Team. The case is now moving in the opposite direction.

A 40-year-old woman has been charged under New Zealand’s Crimes Act with making a false statement and is expected to appear in court next week.

Beard underlined the weight of that decision, stressing that prosecutors do not move lightly in such circumstances and that the charge followed months of detailed work.

The allegation dated back to the night Cape Verde faced Chile in a friendly in Auckland, a match Chile won 4-2. Hours after the final whistle, the focus shifted abruptly from football to a serious criminal accusation involving the island nation’s captain.

From that point, Mendes carried more than just the hopes of a team chasing history. As Cape Verde pushed on and ultimately secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the cloud above their most experienced player refused to clear. The subject surfaced repeatedly at media conferences, often overshadowing questions about tactics, form, or the scale of Cape Verde’s achievement.

Mendes’ lawyer, Karl Trotter, said the ruling brought a powerful sense of relief to his client after enduring intense international scrutiny.

“Mr. Mendes was thrilled to finally be able to get this behind him and he regards it as a complete vindication,” Trotter told the New Zealand Herald, adding that he hoped the clearing of the player’s name would command the same global attention as the original allegation.

For Mendes, 36, it marks a decisive turn in a long international journey. Cape Verde’s most capped player, with 103 appearances since his debut in 2010, he has been the enduring face of a rising football nation. He currently plays his club football with RS Berkane in Morocco, a veteran forward whose influence extends well beyond the pitch.

Now, as Cape Verde look toward the 2026 World Cup, their captain can do the same — without a case file trailing his every move.