Former Western Sydney Wanderers central defender Ruon Tongyik held his hand to his mouth and hugged his partner after a Sydney District Court jury cleared him of raping a woman in his home in November 2018.
The 12 jurors took less than two hours to return not-guilty verdicts following a two-week trial that ended on Thursday.
The woman alleged she was blacked out and awoke to the footballer and a friend sexually assaulting her.
But the men's lawyers suggested she was intent on being a professional footballer's girlfriend who'd set about ruining Tongyik's career.
She claimed rape to a friend a day before going public - the day after Tongyik, then 24, was selected to represent Australia in the men's football team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
He was soon after dropped from the squad and his two-game Socceroos career was put on ice.
The 28-year-old, who faced two aggravated sexual assault charges, was also stood down by the Wanderers when charged by police in 2023.
Speaking to reporters after the jury's verdicts, Tongyik thanked his lawyers, his pregnant partner and the jurors "for believing me".
"The false allegations made against me have caused so much pain, suffering and destruction in my life over the last four years," the 80-game A-League player said.
"Despite the difficulties, I have always believed that the truth will come to light."
Having not played professional football since 2023 when on loan to an Iranian first division club, the former Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners back remains uncertain about his playing career.
Football website Transfermarkt estimates his market value has fallen from $780,000 to $130,000 since late 2021.
"But what I do look forward to is being a father to our daughter and cherishing every moment with her," Tongyik said.
His friend Mardochee Manirakiza was also acquitted of two counts of aggravated sexual assault.
The Adelaide-raised men denied allegations they teamed up to rape an intoxicated young woman, who met the A-League player through Instagram.
The men said the woman instigated a drinking game and engaged in foreplay with Tongyik, before having sex with the friend in a bedroom.
While the Crown portrayed the woman as an honest and impressive witness, the footballer's barrister said her story jarred against other evidence from the day.
Crucially, she sent a text to her sister while in Tongyik's house minutes after the alleged rape.
In response to the sister asking why she was where she was, the woman replied "d***".
That text was the "biggest problem" with the crown case, Tongyik's barrister said.
"This is three minutes after the sexual assault allegedly occurred," Georgia Huxley said.
"She didn't write, 'I've been raped', 'rape', 'help' or something else.
"That is fatal to the crown case. You could find Mr Tongyik not guilty on the basis of this message alone."
The woman told the jury Tongyik suggested the boozy drinking game and she took several drinks and blacked out.
When she came to, the woman allegedly found herself naked, standing over a bed with her head being held as the two men had sex with her.
The Crown said her account was supported by contemporary images she took of the home and reports to a friend on the day.
But the woman's account was a fabrication concocted after the self-described football fan was frustrated she could not have sex with Tongyik, the men's lawyers argued.
The acquitted men are expected to apply for legal costs.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
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