Cristiano Ronaldo will not face criminal charges in rape case

Prosecutors in Clark County, Nevada, announced Monday that they will not pursue criminal charges against Cristiano Ronaldo in the Kathryn Mayorga case.

Prosecutors have been investigating since the 10-year-old complaint came back to light early last season after a report in the German newspaper Der Spiegel. “Based upon a review of the information presented at this time,” the statement said, “the allegations of sexual assault against Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, no charges will be forthcoming.”

While that statement does officially leave the door open for charges to be filed if something revelatory comes to light in the future, it’s likely that the criminal case against Ronaldo is now over.

The case became big news a little less than 10 months ago, when Mayorga attached her name to a report that Der Spiegel had already run a year and a half earlier. Ronaldo immediately denied it, and Juventus stood by the player in a statement.

While most likely a relief to the club and to Ronaldo, this doesn’t mean that the case is completely over. Mayorga’s civil action against Ronaldo is still active, and has been transferred to federal court from Nevada state court. The standard of proof in a civil case is, of course, less than in a criminal case, and if they ever manage to serve the lawsuit (a sticking point due to international treaties involving the serving of a lawsuit) Ronaldo may still have to face the allegation in a courtroom. Whether or not he does is anyone’s guess. If any updates on that front come, this space will bring them to you.