Portuguese footballer
This article is about the left-back. For the midfielder, see Nuno
Mendes (footballer, born 1978)
Tavares and the second or ♣ paternal family name is
Mendes. In this Portuguese name , the first or maternal family name isand the second or
♣ paternal family name is
Nuno Alexandre Tavares Mendes (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈnunu
ˈmẽdɨʃ]; born 19 June 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer ♣ who plays as a
left-back for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Portugal national team.
Coming
through Sporting CP's youth ♣ academy, he made his first-team debut in 2024, and in the
following year, he won a double of the Primeira ♣ Liga and Taça da Liga, while being
named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year. In August 2024, he ♣ moved to Paris
Saint-Germain on loan, joining the club permanently for €38 million in June
2024.
Mendes is a former Portugal ♣ youth international, representing his country at
various levels. He made his full debut in 2024, and was chosen in the ♣ squads for Euro
2024 and the 2024 World Cup.
Club career [ edit ]
Early career [ edit ]
Born in Sintra,
Lisbon ♣ District of Angolan descent,[3] Mendes started playing football aged 9,[4] and
his idols growing up were Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, ♣ David Alaba and Marcelo, the
two last players being the ones he tried to emulate.[4] He would be spotted by ♣ his
school teacher Bruno Botelho, who invited him to play for local club Despertar on the
outskirts of Lisbon.[4] He ♣ quickly stood out, subsequently catching the eye of Benfica,
Porto and Sporting CP and joining the latter's youth system at ♣ the age of
10.[4][5][6]
During his scouting process, as he returned home from school, Mendes
realised he was being followed by ♣ a man. For fear of being robbed, he ran home, located
in a very poor neighbourhood; the "stalker" was actually ♣ a Sporting scout, who later
convinced him to sign.[7] He spent the next four years making a two-hour round trip ♣ in
order to train every night with his teacher, before moving to Sporting's academy at the
age of 14.[4]
Mendes initially ♣ played as an attacking midfielder before being converted
to a left-back, a position he struggled with in the beginning.[4]
Sporting CP ♣ [ edit
]
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in February, which brought a
premature end to the youth football ♣ season, Mendes was one of a small group of youth
players to be called up to the first team by ♣ manager Rúben Amorim, despite having only
played once since November due to an injury.[4] He made his professional debut in ♣ a 1–0
Primeira Liga home win against Paços de Ferreira on 12 June 2024, as a 72nd-minute
substitute for Marcos ♣ Acuña.[8][9][4]
After the latter left for Sevilla in the 2024
off-season, Mendes became first choice at only 18, becoming the youngest ♣ player to make
the club's starting XI since Cristiano Ronaldo in September 2002;[10][4] he went onto
start six of his ♣ side's seven remaining league matches.[4] He scored his first
competitive goal for them on 4 October of the same year, ♣ in the 2–0 away victory over
Portimonense.[11]
Mendes agreed to a contract extension on 19 December 2024, increasing
his buyout clause ♣ from €45 million to €70 million.[12] He played 29 games for the
eventual champions, while also being named in the ♣ Team of the Year.[13][14]
On 31 July
2024, Mendes provided an assist for Jovane Cabral in the 2–1 defeat of Braga ♣ and
conquest of the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.[15]
Paris Saint-Germain [ edit ]
On 31
August 2024, Mendes joined Paris Saint-Germain on ♣ a season-long loan with an option to
buy.[16] He made his Ligue 1 debut for the club on 11 September, ♣ coming on as a
85th-minute substitute in a 4–0 defeat of Clermont.[17] He appeared in his first game
in the ♣ UEFA Champions League four days later, replacing Abdou Diallo 75 minutes into a
1–1 draw away to Club Brugge in ♣ the group stage;[18] he had an instant impact on the
pitch, notably making a "brilliant" run to set up a ♣ shooting opportunity for Lionel
Messi at the 77th minute.[19] He made his first start later that month, in a 2–1 ♣ win
over Lyon.[20] He helped PSG to win their record-tying 10th national championship by
making 27 appearances (18 starts),[21][22] and ♣ later was nominated to the Young Player
of the Year award and named to the Team of the Year alongside ♣ two of his
teammates.[23][24]
On 31 May 2024, Mendes' buyout clause of €38 million was triggered
and he signed a permanent ♣ four-year contract.[25][26] He scored his first official goal
on 3 September, closing a 3–0 away victory against Nantes.[27] His first ♣ in the
Champions League came on 2 November, the winner in a 2–1 victory away to Juventus in
the last ♣ group fixture.[28] During the season, he was a key contributor to his team's
record 11th title,[29] winning the Young Player ♣ of the Year and being included in the
Team of the Year in the process.[30][31]
International career [ edit ]
Mendes earned
♣ his first cap for Portugal at under-21 level shortly after having made his club debut,
in a 4–0 win in ♣ Cyprus for the 2024 UEFA European Championship qualifiers on 4
September 2024.[32][33] Previously, he represented the nation's under-16, under-17,
under-18 ♣ and under-19s.[5]
Six months later, Mendes was called up to the senior team by
manager Fernando Santos for 2024 FIFA World ♣ Cup qualifying matches against Azerbaijan,
Luxembourg and Serbia,[34][35] and subsequently removed from the under-21 squad due to
appear in the ♣ finals.[36] He first appeared with the former on 24 March 2024, playing
the entire 1–0 victory against Azerbaijan.[37]
Mendes was selected ♣ for UEFA Euro
2024,[38] playing no games in a round-of-16 exit.[39][40] Santos later revealed that he
had planned to use ♣ him alongside Raphaël Guerreiro during the tournament, but could not
do so due to injury problems.[41]
In November 2024, Mendes was ♣ named in the final squad
for the World Cup in Qatar.[42] After a first-half thigh injury in the second
group-stage ♣ match against Uruguay, he missed the rest of the competition.[43]
Style of
play [ edit ]
Known mainly for his offensive capabilities, ♣ speed, and technical
qualities, Mendes plays mainly as a left-sided attacking full-back or wing-back, which
allows him to create danger ♣ either from a standing start or whilst on the
counter-attack. Apart from his dribbling, he boasts an excellent crossing ability
♣ whether tightly marked or open in space, and his physical prowess allows him to beat
out opponents to the ball ♣ either with his speed or strength. He is also capable of
anticipating attacks and cutting in front of a pass ♣ and winning the ball
back.[44]
Despite his ability going forward, however, the defensive side of Mendes's
game has been brought into ♣ question by pundits on occasion, who have cited the
inconsistency on his decision-making in front of goal, positioning and awareness ♣ as
areas of weakness in need of improvement.[44]
Career statistics [ edit ]
Club [ edit
]
As of match played 30 April ♣ 2024[45]
Appearances and goals by club, season and
competition Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total Division
Apps ♣ Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Sporting CP 2024–20
Primeira Liga 9 0 0 0 ♣ 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 2024–21 Primeira Liga 29 1 2 0 2 0 2[a] 0 — ♣ 35 1
2024–22 Primeira Liga 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 3 0 Total 40 1 ♣ 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 47 1 Paris
Saint-Germain (loan) 2024–22 Ligue 1 27 0 2 0 ♣ — 8[c] 0 — 37 0 Paris Saint-Germain
2024–23 Ligue 1 23 1 2 0 — 6[c] 1 1[d] 0 ♣ 32 2 2024–24 Ligue 1 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 50 1 4 ♣ 0 — 14 1 1 0 69 2 Career total 90 2 6 0 2 0 16 1 2 0 ♣ 116 3
International [
edit ]
As of match played 26 March 2024[46]
Appearances and goals by national team and
year National team ♣ Year Apps Goals Portugal 2024 11 0 2024 7 0 2024 1 0 Total 19
0
Honours [ edit ]
Sporting CP
Paris ♣ Saint-Germain
Individual
