Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s most famous footballer, paid £275,000 in a confidential settlement to a woman who accused him of rape, says a German magazine.

Kathryn Mayorga, 34, says she has broken a non-disclosure agreement she claims she signed with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star to repeat her allegation that he forcibly had sex with her in a hotel room.

The former model claims Ronaldo assaulted her at the Palms Place hotel in Las Vegas, before later apologising.

This weekend, a lawyer acting for the Portuguese striker, one of the best-paid sports stars with assets estimated at £300m, categorically denied the allegations, which were published in Der Spiegel magazine.

Christian Schertz said he would seek compensation on behalf of Ronaldo for “moral