A translator complains about the leader of Cape Verde.

Ryan Mendes, the captain of the Cape Verde national team, participating with his country in the 2026 World Cup currently taking place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, has become the target of a rape complaint in New Zealand filed by a Brazilian woman, according to the Brazilian newspaper "O Globo."

It is alleged that the events occurred on March 27 of this year at an Auckland hotel, where the team was staying during friendly matches organized by the International Football Federation (FIFA) in Oceania.

A Brazilian national, appointed by the New Zealand federation to work as a translator, accused the captain of the "Blue Sharks" of forcibly entering her room, then beating and raping her.

Local police opened an investigation on April 10, and according to "O Globo," the alleged victim sent notifications a month later to the Cape Verde federation and FIFA requesting the player's exclusion from the World Cup.

The authorities did not respond to her requests again, according to media reports.

The Cape Verde federation did not wish to comment in response to a question from Agence France-Presse. FIFA also did not comment after being contacted, stating that it is "in contact with New Zealand authorities."

The highest governing body in football added, "As a general rule, independent judicial bodies do not comment on allegations they may or may not have received, nor on the possibility of ongoing investigations regarding the alleged cases."

Mendes is considered the most capped player for the Cape Verde national team (99 international matches) and the top scorer in its history (22 goals).

The winger from Turkish club Iğdır, who began his career at Le Havre and moved to Lille in France, played all three matches in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup with his country, which achieved a historic milestone by reaching the Round of 23, where they will face Argentina, the defending champion, on July 3 in Miami.