*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:27, 24 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:46, 21 March 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]
Sporting CP
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]
Mendes was selected for
UEFA Euro 2020,[40] playing no games in a round-of-16 exit.[41][42] 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.[43]
In November 2022, Mendes was named in the final squad for the World Cup in Qatar.[44] After a first-half thigh injury in the second group-stage match against
Uruguay, he missed the rest of the competition.[45]
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.[46]
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.[46]
^Fernandes, Bruno (30 November 2022).
"Nuno Mendes falha o resto do Mundial" [Nuno Mendes misses rest of the World Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 November 2022.