Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet, was accused of raping a woman in Las Vegas in 2009 and then paying her $375,000 to keep it secret, according to a civil complaint filed in Nevada district court last Thursday.

The woman, Kathryn Mayorga, 34, said in the complaint that the alleged assault nine years ago continues to cause her severe distress and that she was coerced into signing a nondisclosure agreement at the time.

Ms....