Cristiano Ronaldo faces new legal challenge from rape accuser over 'hush money deal'

Cristiano Ronaldo's lawyers are set to return to court in a relation to the 'hush money' he paid to a woman who accused him of raping her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009, according to reports.

Kathryn Mayorga, who waived her right to anonymity, received a payment of $375,000 (£275,000) after alleging that Ronaldo raped her.

The Portugal star vehemently refuted the allegation and, in October 2018, penned a statement saying: "I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in."

Mayorga filed a civil lawsuit in Nevada in 2018 and her lawyers are requesting that the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the case's dismissal in June 2022.

Ronaldo is reportedly facing a new legal challenge. Image: Getty

The woman had been pursuing more money but, in a 42-page order, US District Judge Jennifer Dorsey disregarded the case, deeming the conduct of Mayorga's lawyer Leslie Mark Stovall and his use of 'leaked' and 'stolen' confidential documents to have tainted the case to the point of no return.

Sky News say Mayorga's legal team will air their arguments in front of the appeals court on Wednesday and hope to bring the lawsuit back around.

They are holding out for millions to be paid out but Ronaldo's lawyers have said their client and Mayorga had consensual sex.

They also believe the confidentiality agreement in 2010 prevents her from talking about it.

Kathryn Mayorga waived her right to anonymity. Image: Getty

Ronaldo addressed the allegation in an interview with Piers Morgan in 2019, stating he was left "embarrassed."

"They play with your dignity. It's hard. You have a girlfriend, you have a family, you have kids. When they play with your honesty it's bad, it's hard.

"One day I was at home in the living room with my girlfriend and then the news they speak about Cristiano Ronaldo, this and that.

"You listen to your kids coming down the stairs and you change the channel because I was embarrassed, I feel embarrassed."