June 29, 2026
World Cup Cinderella Story Takes Dark Turn: Team Captain Facing Rape Allegations
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RSS Feed Cape Verde has had a fairytale story during its first appearance at the World Cup, making it to the knockout round. But its team captain, Ryan Mendez, is now being investigated by New Zealand police on rape allegations. A Brazilian woman working as an interpreter for the National team says Mendez forcibly raped her in a hotel room in March and claims she has medical and photographic proof of the assault. Cape Verde plays Argentina on Friday with Mendez as its star player, and as of this recording, there is no announced disciplinary action against the Mendez aa New Zealand officials continue to investigate the allegations.
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00:00:07
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks, it is Monday, June twenty ninth, and if you have been watching the World Cup at all, you know who the Cinderella story is. Little billy, little billy, little bitty cape Verde. Yes, the little Cinderella, tiny country that's made it to the knockout stage. Well, now that story has just taken a dark turn. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Rob has taking a dark turn because one of their stars, the team captain, is being accused of something pretty heinous.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: Yes, and this is pretty specific and when you start to read the details, this is deeply concerning. We are talking about thirty six year old Ryan Mendez. He is, yes, the team captain of Cape Verde. He played in all three games for the Blue Sharks. He I think played in I think everything but nineteen minutes of those games. Yes, he is accused of raping, of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman who was working for the Cape Verdey team as a translator back in March. And she has some very difficult to read accusations against the star player.
00:01:17
Speaker 1: She has accusations, she has receipts, she has pictures, she has robes, a story that is one we are all too familiar with in this country when it comes to covering accusations of sexual assault. She has been trying for months to get somewhere, according to her reporting, According to the reporting and what she has told news outlets, she's been trying to get attention for a long time.
00:01:42
Speaker 2: Yes, this happened back in March, according to her, and she claims she took it to three different team officials there with the Cape Verde team and got nothing in response, So pretty shortly thereafter she took it straight to police. But immediately afterwards, she took photos, She went to the hospital, she had a rape kit done. She did everything that a sexual assault victim is supposed to do. She yes, reported the attack to authorities after reporting it to the team officials and underwent the sexual assault examination.
00:02:15
Speaker 1: She did everything she was supposed to do, everything that you would tell and advise someone to do. She went to authorities, Robes, she didn't get anything from the team, so you went to police. She took pictures, she documented, she did the rape kit, She did everything she was supposed to do. And while all of that was happening, Robes, we were staring at a TV and cheering. Yes, we have all been watching this team do something really really special. I know we talk about it so often in March madness. You know what that means. A Cinderella. That is what they are, the little tiny team from the tiny country island nation that's never been in the World Cup before. Robes. They make it to the knockout stage. Not only do they make it to the knockout stage, they go up against heavyweights Spain. You're a why and okay, they they have not won a game. They have tied every single game they've played in the first three. That's good enough point wise to get them through. So they had to depend on like some luck that in games they had nothing to do with. They needed things to have everything lined up perfectly for them. And now, Robes, they have a big game on Friday against the number one team in the world, Tina. So what you're doing, Robes, We've set up like, wow, could they actually beat Messie? We're thinking that and then boom, we get hit with this story. He is an innocent man until proven guilty, Robes, he just is. And that's how it goes. But the description Robes, what's being alleged here goes beyond it, he said, She said.
00:03:44
Speaker 2: Exactly, And we should point out that New Zealand authorities are criminally investigating the allegations right now as we are recording this. But she reported this not only two police, but also spoke to a Brazilian news outlet who says they have seen the photos and they have seen the medical examination, and they say that exam found lesions on her vagina as well as multiple bruises on her breasts, on her neck and her lips. And she has those photos that she has provided to the aforementioned agencies, and this was her story. She claims that he came into her hotel room in Auckland. Again, she is the team translator, helping them just deal with any sort of just language barrier that they may have, but she says he came into her hotel room and physically and sexually assaulted her. Thus the bruising, I mean that is fairly significant, she says, Yes, she immediately reported the attack.
00:04:46
Speaker 1: Yeah, we're talking about a sexual assault here, but were just talking about an.
00:04:49
Speaker 2: Assault, a physical assault as well. Yes, both she claims patched and.
00:04:52
Speaker 1: Choked and things that were like biting and that didn't seem sexual. I just now this sounded like he beat this woman or someone beat this woman. Again, it's always important wrongs. We're trying to not not just convict this guy in public, but the accusations rise to a level of seriousness that it didn't seem robes until this moment. Now we're in the middle of the World Cup that it seems like it's risen to the level this was in March. Yes, they were sitting here in July.
00:05:18
Speaker 2: Almost investigation has been going on for three months.
00:05:21
Speaker 1: But she's been screaming immediately she has, she called FIFA, she called the team. She's still, according to her, waiting to hear back from all those people exactly.
00:05:29
Speaker 2: And look, FIFA did respond to this. Several news outlets today have been now calling on this story, and so they this was their official statement that it takes any allegation of misconduct seriously and that it was in contact with New Zealand authorities and they said, please understand, we cannot comment further at this stage. And the Cape Verde team has not responded as far as I have seen, to any of the multiple inquiries that are now coming their way from multiple news outlets. And this is just so sad. Because they really were the feel good story of this tournament. No team, no debutante team, has come in and made it to this stage since what twenty ten? I mean, this is a long time coming. This is one of those stories that you wait for as a sports enthusiast and certainly as a soccer fan. This is one of those cool oh my, they have a forty year old goalkeeper, you know, and just to be able to be where they are at this stage is a story to celebrate. So it's just so awful to hear about. Yes, this dark turn in this fairy tale of a story.
00:06:33
Speaker 1: What can you do now, Ropes, how do you go about rooting for? How do you go about supporting? How do you go about even if you do root for, in support, how do you go about doing it as enthusiastically as you once did? When this is hanging over Ropes? They were they were baby, they were the story of this tournament we watched I'm not sure which country we were in when we watch them. Yes, the fact that they tied Spain, that's huge, is a victoria beyond understanding. Yes, this is a big deal and a big story, Robes, what do you do with it now? How does a fan how did? It's not a right or wrong, but how do you watch this and feel like you are rooting for and clapping for and screaming for a guy accused of something like that?
00:07:21
Speaker 2: I guess you have to tell you yourself right now that he's simply accused excuse. He has not been charged yet. He has not been convicted, obviously, But I also still have this nagging feeling in my gut because this woman to go through what she's gone through to to put herself out there the way she has to be, asking for help, to be asking to be believed, and requesting that he not be allowed to compete, that's.
00:07:48
Speaker 1: A big deal. She didn't hear back on that one.
00:07:50
Speaker 2: She did not.
00:07:51
Speaker 1: She did make the request Robes that he not be allowed. That request should have been made, and I hope that it was considered. But I mean, what what what power does FIFA have versus the team? Isn't it the teams? This is different from the the NFL. I don't know if it is actually NFL team. Something happens to one of those players, the NFL can step in and do all out punishment before someone is convicted of anything. They can make it di.
00:08:20
Speaker 2: I didn't realize that. Yo, yeah, yeah, the commission often does that happen with just allegations?
00:08:24
Speaker 1: Really, oh yes, because it always makes headlines. It can pull you at the time because it ain't a good look. We have our own investment. We don't need, We don't have a bar of a of a conviction to hold you responsible or sit you down while the investigation continues.
00:08:40
Speaker 2: Because you are a distraction to the team.
00:08:42
Speaker 1: That I mean, that is fair Robes to have done it, But hey, four years you've been waiting to get to this is your first ever time going into a World Cup in Robes. Now this is going to look like they ignored. We don't give a damn. This is our.
00:08:56
Speaker 2: Captain, this is our star. We need him. They were ranked six sixty seventh in the world and just I didn't really even know. I honestly have only heard of Cape Verde truly because of the World Cup. And it makes a little bit sense. This is, as you mentioned, a tiny island nation. It's in the Atlantic off of West Africa. The population of the entire island nation a little over five hundred thousand people. Get your head around that.
00:09:23
Speaker 1: We got more people than in Arkansas. So imagine that Arkansas go.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: We have nine million people here in New York City.
00:09:30
Speaker 1: It's a tiny, tiny, tiny.
00:09:32
Speaker 2: The smallest nation to ever make it to the knockout stage rooms and they do it.
00:09:36
Speaker 1: In their first go around and they still haven't won a game. But that's just how it goes. They needed some luck the first match zero zero with Spain, the second match two to two of Uruguay, and the third one zero zero with Saudi Arabia. It was after that game with Saudi Arabia rose they had to wait to see the outcome of Spain's match, So after they tied with Saudi Arabia, they didn't jump up, it down and celebrate. They all ran to monitors to see what was happening with Spain and if Spain won, it means they would make it forward. And sure enough, so it's just a cool, awesome, sweet story. Everything's coming together And now, yes, Robes, we had it in the back of our minds. Man, could they beat Argentina, would that not be the craziest story ever? But now here we are.
00:10:22
Speaker 2: Do you really want to root for them? Now? Knowing what this Brazilian woman is claiming happened to her just a few months ago. By the way, I know, we're saying it's been three months and no charges have been filed yet. And look, some people very understandably might say, hmm, I wonder why it's taking so long. Hmm, I wonder if we'll get maybe some more answers about where this investigation stands after the World Cup. And to those cynics, I say, I'm with you. I mean, it is a it's very concerning that it seems or it has the appearance of people dragging their feet or taking their time to come to any sort of conclusion about any sort of charges based on the timing of this international event that only happens every four years with a country that now is defying all the odds.
00:11:13
Speaker 1: In a country Robes that doesn't know when they might ever get back to a World Cup, and certainly don't know when they ever might get back to a knockout stage. This happens. We see it plenty of times Robes that it seems like corners are cut or we ignore certain things for the sake of sports, for the sake of sports and money, and it's no matter what here, it's going to be. The appearance of this happening. And folks, we talk about now, how good of a feel good story? This is, Well, the best story so far has to do with their goalie. If you don't want to vote, or rather you don't want to root for Cape Verdet because of the captain, stay here. We'll give you a reason to root for him because of the goalie.
00:12:06
Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ. I don't know if you're like us, but seems like a lot of folks are really getting into World Cup Fever. We actually just came back from a lunch at a place that's usually pretty dead on a Monday in the afternoon. It was packed with brazil fans having a blast watching this game. And we're very much into World Cup Fever. And doesn't everybody love rooting for the underdog, rooting for the team that has seemingly no chance of making it who suddenly finds themselves in the knockout stage. And that's exactly what's happening to Cape Verde. The problem is there is another headline that is now everywhere and it involves their team captain, Ryan Mendez, who has played in all three games I think saved nineteen minutes to just make it clear this dude is somebody they need and want on the field.
00:13:00
Speaker 1: Having him a part of the team is working because here they are sitting where they've never sat in history. And Robes it has been Oh he's a Howwoods's age the goalie said, forty forty years old. Jose Diaz. He has a longer name, but he's just he's been a stud. I mean in two of their three games, the other team didn't score a single goal, and one of those teams was Spain. So take that.
00:13:22
Speaker 2: That says a lot to take that with you.
00:13:25
Speaker 1: But Robes, it was after the first game that his story, his work, I mean, his play obviously got a lot of attention, but there was video the win around of his mom. His mom back in Kate Verdey dancing had her son's jersey and I think it was pink. But she couldn't go to the game because they had it was financial. It was an issue because of VS issues, couldn't get him. That story goes everywhere they get. It worked out. She was able to come to the next game, right and just the shot of her being there, being in the US was sweet. But this is how big of a deal this tournament is in robes. How big of a deal these players are, and how big of a deal Kate verdet is. Before the tournament started, he had what was the number of Instagram followers? He had fifty. By the end of that one game, he was up to ten million. Wow, he was up to ten million follows, and I believe he's closer to twenty as of this recording. Now, it's just this story and this tournament. It's just special. The whole world is watching and rooting and embracing a lot of these athletes and what's happening to Kate Verdey everybody. I want to Cape Verdey, Jersey. But wait right, it's everybody. You're fully into. Your heart is into with these guys and with these guys, and then you hear this and you just go, oh no, So.
00:14:47
Speaker 2: Can you imagine what that? And look and I do feel for the team, and look, this is right now, he said. She said, but she certainly has, as you pointed out, had a lot of receipts that she's shown police, that she's shown soccer officials that she has shown. One of her hometown media outlets who have verified all of this, looked at the police report. It's fairly damning. Now. Of course, Ryan Mendes needs his day in court, if it even comes to that, because we are still waiting to see whether or not New Zealand officials Auckland investigators decide to pursue charges against this thirty six year old forward and star of the Cape vered A team. But I feel so sorry for all the other members of that team who should be celebrating, who should be basking in the glow of their success and the fact that they've gotten to where they are, and yes, Friday is such an important, big, huge day for all of them. Their heads need to be in the right place. This has got to be difficult. I'm sure Ryan Mendes was very aware of this investigation. It's been going on for some time now. But to now have it made headlines, to now have it be everywhere, and to now have his story and these allegations usurp the just the celebratory headlines that were all around them. People were excited to root for them, people who'd never heard of Kate verdet before, even people who weren't that biggest soccer fans before now joining in on the excitement of saying, look at the little guy.
00:16:09
Speaker 1: Go right, and here we are. Will they play?
00:16:13
Speaker 2: My guess is that absolutely he will play.
00:16:15
Speaker 1: I guess is he will as well.
00:16:17
Speaker 2: Yes, the team has said nothing. He has said nothing that's a problem, and that says everything.
00:16:23
Speaker 1: Friday, Argentina, six o'clock Eastern time, Argentina versus Kate Verade. We will see if Mendes is on the field, and also we'll see what kind of reception the team does get. And again several days. Lock can happen between now and Friday, Ropes, so we'll keep an eye on it. Folks, we always appreciate you spending some time with us. Just wanted to update to you. I know a lot of you got World Cup fever right now, but this is you know, a Robes has been a wonderful tournament and there's been a lot of good stories coming out of it, and something always comes out. We'll see what comes of this one. But thanks for listening. Dos, I'm tj on behalf of my dear Amy Robot will talk and the keep the dotings
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks, it is Monday, June twenty ninth, and if you have been watching the World Cup at all, you know who the Cinderella story is. Little billy, little billy, little bitty cape Verde. Yes, the little Cinderella, tiny country that's made it to the knockout stage. Well, now that story has just taken a dark turn. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Rob has taking a dark turn because one of their stars, the team captain, is being accused of something pretty heinous.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: Yes, and this is pretty specific and when you start to read the details, this is deeply concerning. We are talking about thirty six year old Ryan Mendez. He is, yes, the team captain of Cape Verde. He played in all three games for the Blue Sharks. He I think played in I think everything but nineteen minutes of those games. Yes, he is accused of raping, of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman who was working for the Cape Verdey team as a translator back in March. And she has some very difficult to read accusations against the star player.
00:01:17
Speaker 1: She has accusations, she has receipts, she has pictures, she has robes, a story that is one we are all too familiar with in this country when it comes to covering accusations of sexual assault. She has been trying for months to get somewhere, according to her reporting, According to the reporting and what she has told news outlets, she's been trying to get attention for a long time.
00:01:42
Speaker 2: Yes, this happened back in March, according to her, and she claims she took it to three different team officials there with the Cape Verde team and got nothing in response, So pretty shortly thereafter she took it straight to police. But immediately afterwards, she took photos, She went to the hospital, she had a rape kit done. She did everything that a sexual assault victim is supposed to do. She yes, reported the attack to authorities after reporting it to the team officials and underwent the sexual assault examination.
00:02:15
Speaker 1: She did everything she was supposed to do, everything that you would tell and advise someone to do. She went to authorities, Robes, she didn't get anything from the team, so you went to police. She took pictures, she documented, she did the rape kit, She did everything she was supposed to do. And while all of that was happening, Robes, we were staring at a TV and cheering. Yes, we have all been watching this team do something really really special. I know we talk about it so often in March madness. You know what that means. A Cinderella. That is what they are, the little tiny team from the tiny country island nation that's never been in the World Cup before. Robes. They make it to the knockout stage. Not only do they make it to the knockout stage, they go up against heavyweights Spain. You're a why and okay, they they have not won a game. They have tied every single game they've played in the first three. That's good enough point wise to get them through. So they had to depend on like some luck that in games they had nothing to do with. They needed things to have everything lined up perfectly for them. And now, Robes, they have a big game on Friday against the number one team in the world, Tina. So what you're doing, Robes, We've set up like, wow, could they actually beat Messie? We're thinking that and then boom, we get hit with this story. He is an innocent man until proven guilty, Robes, he just is. And that's how it goes. But the description Robes, what's being alleged here goes beyond it, he said, She said.
00:03:44
Speaker 2: Exactly, And we should point out that New Zealand authorities are criminally investigating the allegations right now as we are recording this. But she reported this not only two police, but also spoke to a Brazilian news outlet who says they have seen the photos and they have seen the medical examination, and they say that exam found lesions on her vagina as well as multiple bruises on her breasts, on her neck and her lips. And she has those photos that she has provided to the aforementioned agencies, and this was her story. She claims that he came into her hotel room in Auckland. Again, she is the team translator, helping them just deal with any sort of just language barrier that they may have, but she says he came into her hotel room and physically and sexually assaulted her. Thus the bruising, I mean that is fairly significant, she says, Yes, she immediately reported the attack.
00:04:46
Speaker 1: Yeah, we're talking about a sexual assault here, but were just talking about an.
00:04:49
Speaker 2: Assault, a physical assault as well. Yes, both she claims patched and.
00:04:52
Speaker 1: Choked and things that were like biting and that didn't seem sexual. I just now this sounded like he beat this woman or someone beat this woman. Again, it's always important wrongs. We're trying to not not just convict this guy in public, but the accusations rise to a level of seriousness that it didn't seem robes until this moment. Now we're in the middle of the World Cup that it seems like it's risen to the level this was in March. Yes, they were sitting here in July.
00:05:18
Speaker 2: Almost investigation has been going on for three months.
00:05:21
Speaker 1: But she's been screaming immediately she has, she called FIFA, she called the team. She's still, according to her, waiting to hear back from all those people exactly.
00:05:29
Speaker 2: And look, FIFA did respond to this. Several news outlets today have been now calling on this story, and so they this was their official statement that it takes any allegation of misconduct seriously and that it was in contact with New Zealand authorities and they said, please understand, we cannot comment further at this stage. And the Cape Verde team has not responded as far as I have seen, to any of the multiple inquiries that are now coming their way from multiple news outlets. And this is just so sad. Because they really were the feel good story of this tournament. No team, no debutante team, has come in and made it to this stage since what twenty ten? I mean, this is a long time coming. This is one of those stories that you wait for as a sports enthusiast and certainly as a soccer fan. This is one of those cool oh my, they have a forty year old goalkeeper, you know, and just to be able to be where they are at this stage is a story to celebrate. So it's just so awful to hear about. Yes, this dark turn in this fairy tale of a story.
00:06:33
Speaker 1: What can you do now, Ropes, how do you go about rooting for? How do you go about supporting? How do you go about even if you do root for, in support, how do you go about doing it as enthusiastically as you once did? When this is hanging over Ropes? They were they were baby, they were the story of this tournament we watched I'm not sure which country we were in when we watch them. Yes, the fact that they tied Spain, that's huge, is a victoria beyond understanding. Yes, this is a big deal and a big story, Robes, what do you do with it now? How does a fan how did? It's not a right or wrong, but how do you watch this and feel like you are rooting for and clapping for and screaming for a guy accused of something like that?
00:07:21
Speaker 2: I guess you have to tell you yourself right now that he's simply accused excuse. He has not been charged yet. He has not been convicted, obviously, But I also still have this nagging feeling in my gut because this woman to go through what she's gone through to to put herself out there the way she has to be, asking for help, to be asking to be believed, and requesting that he not be allowed to compete, that's.
00:07:48
Speaker 1: A big deal. She didn't hear back on that one.
00:07:50
Speaker 2: She did not.
00:07:51
Speaker 1: She did make the request Robes that he not be allowed. That request should have been made, and I hope that it was considered. But I mean, what what what power does FIFA have versus the team? Isn't it the teams? This is different from the the NFL. I don't know if it is actually NFL team. Something happens to one of those players, the NFL can step in and do all out punishment before someone is convicted of anything. They can make it di.
00:08:20
Speaker 2: I didn't realize that. Yo, yeah, yeah, the commission often does that happen with just allegations?
00:08:24
Speaker 1: Really, oh yes, because it always makes headlines. It can pull you at the time because it ain't a good look. We have our own investment. We don't need, We don't have a bar of a of a conviction to hold you responsible or sit you down while the investigation continues.
00:08:40
Speaker 2: Because you are a distraction to the team.
00:08:42
Speaker 1: That I mean, that is fair Robes to have done it, But hey, four years you've been waiting to get to this is your first ever time going into a World Cup in Robes. Now this is going to look like they ignored. We don't give a damn. This is our.
00:08:56
Speaker 2: Captain, this is our star. We need him. They were ranked six sixty seventh in the world and just I didn't really even know. I honestly have only heard of Cape Verde truly because of the World Cup. And it makes a little bit sense. This is, as you mentioned, a tiny island nation. It's in the Atlantic off of West Africa. The population of the entire island nation a little over five hundred thousand people. Get your head around that.
00:09:23
Speaker 1: We got more people than in Arkansas. So imagine that Arkansas go.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: We have nine million people here in New York City.
00:09:30
Speaker 1: It's a tiny, tiny, tiny.
00:09:32
Speaker 2: The smallest nation to ever make it to the knockout stage rooms and they do it.
00:09:36
Speaker 1: In their first go around and they still haven't won a game. But that's just how it goes. They needed some luck the first match zero zero with Spain, the second match two to two of Uruguay, and the third one zero zero with Saudi Arabia. It was after that game with Saudi Arabia rose they had to wait to see the outcome of Spain's match, So after they tied with Saudi Arabia, they didn't jump up, it down and celebrate. They all ran to monitors to see what was happening with Spain and if Spain won, it means they would make it forward. And sure enough, so it's just a cool, awesome, sweet story. Everything's coming together And now, yes, Robes, we had it in the back of our minds. Man, could they beat Argentina, would that not be the craziest story ever? But now here we are.
00:10:22
Speaker 2: Do you really want to root for them? Now? Knowing what this Brazilian woman is claiming happened to her just a few months ago. By the way, I know, we're saying it's been three months and no charges have been filed yet. And look, some people very understandably might say, hmm, I wonder why it's taking so long. Hmm, I wonder if we'll get maybe some more answers about where this investigation stands after the World Cup. And to those cynics, I say, I'm with you. I mean, it is a it's very concerning that it seems or it has the appearance of people dragging their feet or taking their time to come to any sort of conclusion about any sort of charges based on the timing of this international event that only happens every four years with a country that now is defying all the odds.
00:11:13
Speaker 1: In a country Robes that doesn't know when they might ever get back to a World Cup, and certainly don't know when they ever might get back to a knockout stage. This happens. We see it plenty of times Robes that it seems like corners are cut or we ignore certain things for the sake of sports, for the sake of sports and money, and it's no matter what here, it's going to be. The appearance of this happening. And folks, we talk about now, how good of a feel good story? This is, Well, the best story so far has to do with their goalie. If you don't want to vote, or rather you don't want to root for Cape Verdet because of the captain, stay here. We'll give you a reason to root for him because of the goalie.
00:12:06
Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ. I don't know if you're like us, but seems like a lot of folks are really getting into World Cup Fever. We actually just came back from a lunch at a place that's usually pretty dead on a Monday in the afternoon. It was packed with brazil fans having a blast watching this game. And we're very much into World Cup Fever. And doesn't everybody love rooting for the underdog, rooting for the team that has seemingly no chance of making it who suddenly finds themselves in the knockout stage. And that's exactly what's happening to Cape Verde. The problem is there is another headline that is now everywhere and it involves their team captain, Ryan Mendez, who has played in all three games I think saved nineteen minutes to just make it clear this dude is somebody they need and want on the field.
00:13:00
Speaker 1: Having him a part of the team is working because here they are sitting where they've never sat in history. And Robes it has been Oh he's a Howwoods's age the goalie said, forty forty years old. Jose Diaz. He has a longer name, but he's just he's been a stud. I mean in two of their three games, the other team didn't score a single goal, and one of those teams was Spain. So take that.
00:13:22
Speaker 2: That says a lot to take that with you.
00:13:25
Speaker 1: But Robes, it was after the first game that his story, his work, I mean, his play obviously got a lot of attention, but there was video the win around of his mom. His mom back in Kate Verdey dancing had her son's jersey and I think it was pink. But she couldn't go to the game because they had it was financial. It was an issue because of VS issues, couldn't get him. That story goes everywhere they get. It worked out. She was able to come to the next game, right and just the shot of her being there, being in the US was sweet. But this is how big of a deal this tournament is in robes. How big of a deal these players are, and how big of a deal Kate verdet is. Before the tournament started, he had what was the number of Instagram followers? He had fifty. By the end of that one game, he was up to ten million. Wow, he was up to ten million follows, and I believe he's closer to twenty as of this recording. Now, it's just this story and this tournament. It's just special. The whole world is watching and rooting and embracing a lot of these athletes and what's happening to Kate Verdey everybody. I want to Cape Verdey, Jersey. But wait right, it's everybody. You're fully into. Your heart is into with these guys and with these guys, and then you hear this and you just go, oh no, So.
00:14:47
Speaker 2: Can you imagine what that? And look and I do feel for the team, and look, this is right now, he said. She said, but she certainly has, as you pointed out, had a lot of receipts that she's shown police, that she's shown soccer officials that she has shown. One of her hometown media outlets who have verified all of this, looked at the police report. It's fairly damning. Now. Of course, Ryan Mendes needs his day in court, if it even comes to that, because we are still waiting to see whether or not New Zealand officials Auckland investigators decide to pursue charges against this thirty six year old forward and star of the Cape vered A team. But I feel so sorry for all the other members of that team who should be celebrating, who should be basking in the glow of their success and the fact that they've gotten to where they are, and yes, Friday is such an important, big, huge day for all of them. Their heads need to be in the right place. This has got to be difficult. I'm sure Ryan Mendes was very aware of this investigation. It's been going on for some time now. But to now have it made headlines, to now have it be everywhere, and to now have his story and these allegations usurp the just the celebratory headlines that were all around them. People were excited to root for them, people who'd never heard of Kate verdet before, even people who weren't that biggest soccer fans before now joining in on the excitement of saying, look at the little guy.
00:16:09
Speaker 1: Go right, and here we are. Will they play?
00:16:13
Speaker 2: My guess is that absolutely he will play.
00:16:15
Speaker 1: I guess is he will as well.
00:16:17
Speaker 2: Yes, the team has said nothing. He has said nothing that's a problem, and that says everything.
00:16:23
Speaker 1: Friday, Argentina, six o'clock Eastern time, Argentina versus Kate Verade. We will see if Mendes is on the field, and also we'll see what kind of reception the team does get. And again several days. Lock can happen between now and Friday, Ropes, so we'll keep an eye on it. Folks, we always appreciate you spending some time with us. Just wanted to update to you. I know a lot of you got World Cup fever right now, but this is you know, a Robes has been a wonderful tournament and there's been a lot of good stories coming out of it, and something always comes out. We'll see what comes of this one. But thanks for listening. Dos, I'm tj on behalf of my dear Amy Robot will talk and the keep the dotings