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
