Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing regarding an alleged rape by Cape Verde’s Ryan Mendes, who is currently playing at the 2026 World Cup.

Cape Verde, the third smallest nation in World Cup history, have progressed to the Round of 32 after drawing with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Mendes has captained his country in all three group stage games and is one appearance away from his 100th cap.

But it has now been reported that the 36-year-old is being investigated by police over an incident that allegedly took place in March this year.

Cape Verde’s Captain Investigated By Police

Troy Taormina (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, the incident took place while the Cape Verde team were staying in Oceania for two friendly matches. They played against New Zealand and Chile during the FIFA Series.

A Brazilian woman living in New Zealand was contracted by the New Zealand Football Federation as a translator for the Cape Verde team and staff. The complaint alleges the incident happened on March 27 at the hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, where the team were staying.

Mendes allegedly entered her room, strangled her, punched her, bit her and raped her while she was trying to defend herself. The medical report noted bruising in several areas of her body, such as her neck, lips, and areas of tenderness.

A genital examination reportedly found ‘two circular lesions, painful to the touch, at the base of the labia minora’. The alleged victim and her husband sent extrajudicial notices on May 10th to the Cape Verde Football Federation and FIFA with evidence and her account of events.

Cape Verde Statement on Mendes Situation

Paul Childs via Reuters

However, they reportedly received no reply. Globo claim to have revealed a WhatsApp conversation which shows an official from Cape Verde’s camp telling the alleged victim that the matter was ‘Ryan’s personal problem‘. The implication appears to be that they would not be looking into the complaint.

But New Zealand police have confirmed the matter has been under investigation since April and the country’s football federation said in a short statement: “We understand that this matter is with the New Zealand Police, so they would be more appropriately positioned to comment on the situation.”

FIFA, however, have declined to comment on the matter involving Mendes, who plays for Igdir FK in the Turkish Second Division.

It’s a return to the Red Bull Ring this weekend for Formula One, with many Dutch fans making their way over to support their hero Max Verstappen.

With this race already being declared as a heat hazard for the drivers, meaning the temperature is predicted to be over 31 degrees Celsius, tomorrow’s race is already looking like it will be a tough one.

Last year it was McLaren‘s Lando Norris who took the chequered flag first ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari‘s Charles Leclerc. This year, though, McLaren don’t look so dominant, with Mercedes currently being the team to beat in the Constructors’ Championship.

Ahead of the race, the Supercomputer has made its predictions on who will take the win this year. After a confusing qualifying session earlier today, we now know that George Russell will start from pole position tomorrow with the two Ferraris of Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton starting in P2 and P3.

10

Arvid Lindblad

Racing Bulls

Starting in P10 and predicted to finish 10th, Lindblad had a good qualifying, and the Racing Bulls looks to have set up a good car for this weekend. Currently 13th in the Drivers’ Championship, the British driver will be looking to gain points on his next closest rival, Franco Colapinto.

9

Liam Lawson

Racing Bulls

Starting one place higher than his teammate and predicted to finish one place higher is Lawson. With the two Racing Bulls starting so close together, the team would expect no contact and fair play between the two of them, which, if things go as predicted, would result in a double points finish for the team.

8

Isack Hadjar

Red Bull

Once again, the Supercomputer has predicted the eighth-place driver to finish in eighth. After finishing sixth in Spain, Hadjar will be looking to carry on a pretty solid job for Red Bull this season. After so many years of struggles with their second driver, this would be Hadjar’s fourth consecutive points finish since his retirement from the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May, so many would say a pretty successful run.

7

Max Verstappen

Red Bull

Fan-favorite Verstappen will be hoping not to disappoint the crowds that have gathered for him this weekend, but after a crash in qualifying today, the fast and furious Dutchman will be hoping to make up for missing out on a pole position that could have been his.

6

Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari

After a win two weeks ago in Spain, Hamilton will be hoping to continue his success by claiming a win here as well. With many now hoping that this could be the start of a championship challenge for the Ferrari driver, a win here would really keep that momentum going, but, alas, the Supercomputer has not predicted that and instead put him down in sixth.

5

George Russell

Mercedes

Lisa Leutner via Reuters

Pole sitter Russell is not likely to have a good race if we go off of these predictions. With Hamilton now between Russell and his teammate Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship, and the young Italian seeming to be in top form this season, a bad race here is not what the 28-year-old needs if he wants to keep his championship hopes alive.

4

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

Predicted to just miss out on the podium is Leclerc. After a retirement in Spain, the Monegasque will be hoping to gain back some of the points that he lost out on at the last race weekend. With only two points separating Leclerc and Norris in the Drivers’ Championship, finishing behind the McLaren driver is not a good result for Leclerc.

3

Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes

The current championship leader is not predicted to come out on top this weekend. Starting in fourth place, Antonelli will have to pull off a few overtakes to get back to winning ways like he’s used to. If the Supercomputer is anything to go by, though, there will only be one overtake necessary for the Italian instead of the three for first place.

2

Lando Norris

McLaren

With his home Grand Prix looming, Norris will want to go into next weekend with confidence and a back-to-back podium finish will provide that. After finishing in third last race weekend, Norris is predicted to go one step higher this weekend and claim second.

1

Oscar Piastri

McLaren

A 1-2 finish is predicted for the British-based team, with the Aussie taking the top step. A third podium for Piastri and a first win this season would do a lot to boost his and the team’s morale going into an important weekend for them next week. Piastri will be starting from seventh tomorrow, so the possibility of a win may not seem terribly likely, but it is definitely not completely out of the question.

Pulling on the Three Lions shirt is widely regarded as one of the greatest honours an English footballer can experience.

Representing your country at major international tournaments is the pinnacle of the sport, but that privilege also comes with enormous pressure, not only to perform but to carry the expectations of millions of supporters.

Few players understand that burden better than Gary Neville. The Manchester United legend was England’s first-choice right-back during one of the most challenging eras in the national team’s recent history, and he remains recognised among the Premier League’s all-time greats.

However, while many England players have endured criticism for their performances, Neville found himself at the centre of a very different controversy in 2003 — one that, according to his own admission, made him feel like ‘the most hated footballer in the country.’

The controversy stemmed from his decision to support Rio Ferdinand, who had been controversially removed from the England squad after missing a scheduled drugs test. Neville, alongside several experienced teammates, threatened to boycott a Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey in protest, believing the FA had treated Ferdinand unfairly.

The situation quickly escalated, and Neville ultimately found himself pushed to the brink as a consequence.

Neville later reflected on the events of 2003 in an interview with the Daily Mail, explaining how the episode almost destroyed the international career he had worked so hard to build.

He added: “It was the week of England’s final qualifying match for Euro 2004 and my dad had just picked up me and my brother to take us to Manchester Airport so we could fly to London and meet the squad when I got the call: Rio had been dropped because of the missed drugs test. At first, I genuinely thought someone was joking.”

At 28, Neville was entering what should have been the peak of his playing career. By then, he had already represented England at two European Championships in 1996 and 2000, as well as the World Cup in 1998, having only missed the 2002 tournament through injury.

At Manchester United, Neville was also on track to secure his sixth Premier League title in eight seasons. Walking away from football at that point would have been virtually unheard of, but the intensity of the media backlash made him seriously contemplate it.

Ferguson’s Phone Call Changed Neville’s Mind

Throughout his playing days, Neville regularly spoke about the immense respect he had for Ferguson. Therefore, when he found himself considering walking away from England, it was fitting that the legendary Scot was the person who convinced him otherwise.

When the Rio Ferdinand controversy finally subsided, Neville remained an England international, although his career with the national side never truly reached the heights many had expected.

England again failed to live up to expectations at Euro 2004, suffering a heartbreaking quarter-final defeat to Portugal on penalties. Two years later at the 2006 World Cup, history repeated itself with another painful elimination at the same stage, against the same opponents, via another penalty shootout.

Neville eventually won the last of his 85 caps in 2007, retaining immense personal pride but achieving little tangible success with England. He later reflected on his international career and admitted that, in many ways, it felt like a “waste of time”.

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.com – Correct as of 27-06-26.