Nuno Mendes came through Sporting CP’s academy and won the Portuguese title with the club in 2020/21 before joining Paris Saint-Germain, first on loan in 2021 and then permanently.
At left-back he combines sprint speed with strength and an ability to drive past opponents, and he is equally capable of defending one-on-one against top wingers. He played a major part in PSG’s 2025 Champions League triumph and was widely rated one of the best full-backs in the world that season.
Mendes is a regular for Portugal and won the UEFA Nations League in 2025, scoring in the final against Spain.
Playing style
Mendes is an explosive, left-footed full-back. His speed over distance is exceptional, and he uses it both to attack and to recover. He is strong in one-on-one duels, which allows him to defend against top wingers without cover. Going forward he drives with the ball, combines well and delivers dangerous crosses. Luis Enrique has used him with freedom to attack, and he is capable of playing as a wing-back or even as a left winger. He is one of the most complete full-backs in Europe.
International career
Mendes made his Portugal debut in 2021 and has become their first-choice left-back. He played at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. In the 2025 UEFA Nations League final against Spain he scored an equaliser, and Portugal won the trophy on penalties.
Career in numbers
Mendes’s senior club career, which began in 2019/20, has so far brought 229 appearances and 15 goals for 2 clubs. His best scoring return came in 2025/26: 6 goals in 41 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. His busiest campaign was 2024/25, with 53 appearances. So far in 2026/27 he has made 5 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.