Cristiano Ronaldo's team of lawyers spent an estimated $1million to silence a woman's rape claim against him, according to reports.

The Portuguese footballer met model Kathryn Mayorga, 34, in a Las Vegas nightclub in June 2009 and later invited her to a party at his penthouse, which is where the model claims he raped her.

The 33-year-old footballer has always denied the allegations, maintaining sex was consensual, and enlisted the help of the highest powered lawyers, detectives, forensic experts, doctors and PR specialists to protect his image.

Reports have speculated Cristiano Ronaldo's team of high-powered lawyers racked up an estimated $1million to silence Kathryn Mayorga's (right), 34, claim against the footballer

The model (above) accused the footballer of raping after she was invited to a party at his penthouse in 2009

When Ronaldo told his Portuguese lawyer Carlos Osório de Castro about the claims the model was putting forward, a 'team', which included a top UK law firm, a £360-per-hour ex-police officer and a forensic expert, was created.

The 'team', as they are referred to in legal paper, immediately set out to protect Ronaldo, with reports estimating the costs to have been around the figure of $1million.

But the team felt the estimated costs were necessary in order to protect their client's reputation and prevent any chance of him being facing a life sentence.

They also wanted to protect his public image and stop the allegations, which he has always denied, from being leaked.

The footballer has always maintained that sex between him and Ms Mayorga was consensual

Cristiano Ronaldo with current girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez seen during the UEFA Champions League between Juventus and BSC Young Boys at Allianz Stadium on October 2, 2018

Leslie Mark Stovall (above), Kathryn Mayorga's attorney, speaks during a press conference on October 3, 2018, in Las Vegas, about the rape accusation against Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo told his Portugese lawyer Carlos Osorio de Castro (above) who immediately set out to create a team to protect the footballer

However Ms Mayorga's lawyers now want to overturn the $375,000 (£287,000) confidentiality agreement she signed and last week Ms Mayorga's lead attorney Leslie Stovall demanded a probe into the team's conduct.

The Las Vegas lawyer said: 'We have asked these agencies to determine whether Ron­­­­aldo and any individuals and organisations associated with him have violated any laws within their jurisdiction.'

Cristiano Ronaldo's new Las Vegas attorney, Peter S. Christiansen, talks in Las Vegas on October 10 2010 about a statement he released in response to rape allegations against the international star

He added that the non-disclosure deal was designed to 'pre­vent or de­­­lay criminal prosecution' of the alleged assault.

Ronaldo's new lawyer Peter S. Christiansen, hit back at the 'outrageous allegations' stating there was nothing suspicious about the footballer's payout of $350,000 (£266,000) to Ms Mayorga.

He insisted: 'This settlement is by no means a confession of guilt.'

He also claimed that paperwork published by German magazine Der Spiegel had been hacked from computers and altered in order to make the footballer appear guilty.