Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes cleared after sexual assault allegations

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Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes cleared after sexual assault allegations

Jon Arnold, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Wed, November 4, 2026 at 11:29 PM UTC ·

2 min read

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Cape Verde player Ryan Mendes will not be charged with rape after an investigation in New Zealand cleared the midfielder, his lawyer said.

Accusations that Mendes had sexually assaulted a Brazilian translator working with the group during a trip to New Zealand were first reported during the World Cup . Cape Verde, a country of fewer than 500,000 people off the coast of Western Africa, was on a fairy tale run, avoiding defeat against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to move into the knockout stages.

Cape Verde manager Bubista, who now coaches the Moroccan club where Mendes plays, refused to answer questions about the allegations ahead of a Round of 32 meeting with Argentina. Mendes captained Cape Verde in that match, a heroic performance that saw the Blue Sharks push the eventual runners-up to extra time before falling, 3-2 .

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Cape Verde's dramatic World Cup debut against Spain captured in photos

Cape Verde's World Cup debut featured a heroic effort from their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha as they battled to a draw with soccer powerhouse Spain in Atlanta on June 15, 2026. Vozinha made 7 saves and kept the final to 0-0.See more of the action from this incredible match.

(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's Diney Borges in action with Spain's Mikel during a 2026 World Cup Group H match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Cape Verde's Steven Moreira in action with Spain's Gavi during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's defender Steven Moreira controls the ball next to Spain's defender Aymeric Laporte during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's Vozinha makes a save from Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal in action with Cape Verde's Steven Moreira.
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's Vozinha in action as he makes a save during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's midfielder Rodri reacts next to Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha after missing a goal opportunity during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Aymeric Laporte and Gavi react during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Claudia Greco, REUTERS)

Spain's Gavi in action with Cape Verde's Steven Moreira during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Spain's Ferran Torres in action with Cape Verde's Jamiro Monteiro during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Spain's midfielder Fabian Ruiz shoots during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Gavi in action with Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes during a 2026 World Cup group match in Atlanta on June 15, 2026.
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)

Spain's Marc Cucurella in action with Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes.
(Jordan Godfree, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's forward Ryan Mendes fights for the ball with Spain's defender Marc Cucurella during their 2026 World Cup Group H football match.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha throws the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's defender Aymeric Laporte and Cape Verde's forward Dailon Livramento fight for the ball.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Ferran Torres in action.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha makes a save.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Spain's Marc Cucurella in action.
(JORDAN GODFREE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Cape Verde's Vozinha in action with Spain's Pau Cubarsi and Cape Verde's Diney Borges.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's Lamine Yamal in action.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's Aymeric Laporte in action with Cape Verde's Nuno Da Costa.
(Siphiwe Sibeko, REUTERS)

Cape Verde's defender Steven Moreira and Spain's defender Pedro Porro fight for the ball.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

Cape Verde's Willy Semedo in action with Spain's Marcos Llorente.
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Spain's defender Pau Cubarsi misses the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group H football match between Spain and Cape Verde.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)

A Cape Verde fan holds a scarf up in the stands before the match.
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

After a civil claim and an investigation by police in New Zealand, Mendes' lawyer Karl Trotter said the 36-year-old has been cleared.

"The New Zealand Police have advised counsel in writing that they have concluded their investigation of the matter and Mr Mendes will not be facing charges. Today, and in connection with this matter, the police have charged a female pursuant to s. 111 Crimes Act 1961, with making a false statement," Trotter said in a statement released Nov. 4. "It is to be hoped that this recent turn of events, clearing Mr. Mendes of the allegation of rape, attracts the same level of media attention as the original reporting."

Police in New Zealand confirmed to local media outlets that the woman is expected in court to answer the charges of making a false statement.

"A decision to prosecute in these circumstances is not taken lightly and follows months of investigative work by our Adult Sexual Assault Team," Detective Inspector Scott Beard said .

Despite their strong showing at the World Cup, Cape Verde fell in both of its first two games after the tournament, African Cup of Nations qualification matches against Mali and Rwanda. Mendes was in the starting lineup for both of those games and has been recalled for back-to-back matches with Liberia this month.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes cleared after sexual assault allegations

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