Cristiano Ronaldo gave an emotional interview where he said being accused of rape made 2018 the worst year of his life

Photo by Getty/NurPhoto

Cristiano Ronaldo says last year’s rape accusation made 2018 the worst year of his life.
Speaking on Portuguese television channel TVI, Ronaldo said the ordeal had been hard on his family, particularly his nine-year-old son, who he says understands the headlines.
Kathryn Mayorga accused Ronaldo of a sexual assault at a Las Vegas hotel in June, 2009. He denied the allegation.
Last month, criminal charges against the Juventus forward were dropped, however The Independent reports the lawsuit has been refiled in a federal court.
Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Read more of our soccer coverage here.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said last year’s rape accusation made 2018 the worst year of his life because of the impact it had on himself and his family.

Ronaldo was accused of raping Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. It is an allegation he has repeatedly denied.

The Portugal international won’t face criminal charges because the district attorney’s office in Las Vegas last month ruled that the allegations could not "be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."

This week, Ronaldo told Portuguese television TVI that, "2018, the year that passed, was probably the worst year for me, not professionally but personally speaking."

Without mentioning Mayorga by name, he said: "When people question your honor, it hurts, it hurts a lot — especially for me."

The 34-year-old added it was tough on his family, especially his young son who he says was old enough to understand what was happening.

"I have a big family," he said. "A wife, a son that is already smart enough to understand, he is nine years old. It was a tough year, possibly the worst I’ve ever had."

The allegation was made public in April 2017, when German website Spiegel published "Cristiano Ronaldo’s Secret" which detailed the events of the alleged rape eight years prior.

Ronaldo’s lawyer confirmed a sexual encounter occurred that night, but said it was "consensual."

Spiegel said Ronaldo paid Mayorga, who at the time remained anonymous, $375,000 to settle the sexual assault claim. Earlier this month, Ronaldo’s lawyers said the Juventus forward had paid Mayorga "to maintain the confidentiality of their dispute."

While Ronaldo will face no criminal charges, The Independent reports Mayorga’s legal team is seeking monetary damages of $200,000, having refiled the lawsuit in federal court.

NOW WATCH: The US women’s team won the World Cup. Here’s why American women are so good at soccer.

Source: Business Insider – blane@businessinsider.com (Barnaby Lane)