*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:04, 15 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:46, 18 November 2024 (UTC)
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]
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 2020, as a 72nd-minute substitute for Marcos Acuña.[8][9][4]
After the latter left for Sevilla in the 2020 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]
On 31 August 2021, 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 2022, 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]
Mendes had suffered from a hamstring injury since May 2023, and was successfully operated in October by surgeon Lasse Lempainen in Turku, Finland.[32] He only made his return on 25 February 2024, playing 20 minutes of the 1–1 league home draw against Rennes in place of Lucas Hernandez.[33] He eventually helped his team to reach the Champions League semi-finals, where they were knocked out by Borussia Dortmund 2–0 on aggregate;[34] they also won the domestic treble with record-extending successes in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions, with the player only not taking part in the latter due to his injury.[35][36][37]
Mendes was selected for UEFA Euro 2020,[44] playing no games in a round-of-16 exit.[45][46] 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.[47]
In November 2022, Mendes was named in the final squad for the World Cup in Qatar.[48] After a first-half thigh injury in the second group-stage match against Uruguay, he missed the rest of the competition.[49]
During qualifying for Euro 2024, Mendes made one appearance against Luxembourg, assisting Ronaldo's opening goal of the 6–0 win in the ninth minute;[50] he missed the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury,[51] as Portugal won all ten matches in Group J.[52] He was picked for the finals in Germany,[53] starting against the Czech Republic[54] and Turkey in the group phase[55] and Slovenia (3–0 victory in a penalty shootout)[56] and France in the knockout stage (5–3 loss in another shootout).[57]
Style of play
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.[58]
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.[58]
^"Paris pip Lyon at the post!". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 19 September 2021. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^Fernandes, Bruno (30 November 2022). "Nuno Mendes falha o resto do Mundial" [Nuno Mendes misses rest of the World Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
