By Sandra Simon

Not a year goes by without a footballer being accused of assault or rape.

Dani Alves, who faced charges and lost several sponsorships and endorsements as well as his reputation and years of hard work, has been acquitted of sexual assault charges by the Spanish court in a ruling on the 28th of September 2025.

According to the verdict, there was insufficient evidence.

Below are five other footballers who have been exonerated after facing rape accusations:

1. Franck Ribery

A retired French professional footballer who primarily played as a winger was acquitted of charges related to soliciting an underage prostitute.

He was accused of paying Zaria Dehar for sex in 2009 when she was underage.

The case was on trial for a while, but after a lengthy investigation, the prosecution maintained that he was unaware of her age, while the magistrate disputed the claim. The case was later dropped due to a lack of evidence.

2. Neymar Jnr

Neymar was accused of rape by a Brazilian model, Najila Trindade, in 2019, who claimed to have been raped in Paris after meeting him.

She claimed that he forced himself on her when she refused to be intimate with him.

Neymar released a video on Instagram sharing their conversations and intimate moments proving his innocence.

He was later cleared after it emerged that the accuser and her husband attempted to blackmail him. The case was dismissed by a Brazilian court.

3. Benjamin Mendy

The ex-Manchester City defender was accused of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

He was found not guilty at Chester Crown Court. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the two charges

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

The legendary footballer was accused of rape by Kathryn Mayorga in 2009.

She said she was coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement and $375,000 settlement following the alleged rape, which Ronaldo has maintained was a consensual sexual encounter.

5. Callum Hudson-Odoi

The Chelsea FC player was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. When emergency services attended, a woman reported that she had been raped. She was taken to the hospital.

A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of rape. He was released from custody and bailed to return on a date in mid-June, the spokesman said.

The exoneration of these footballers serves as a constant reminder of the complexities of the justice system.