(foto: Getty Images)
Nuno Mendes, just 23 years old, is widely regarded by many experts as the best left-back in the world.
He broke through as a teenager at Sporting CP and, at only 19, moved to Paris Saint-Germain four years ago—first on loan, then permanently for €38 million. It has proven to be money well spent. The Portuguese defender of Cape Verdean descent has made huge strides, especially under Luis Enrique, who helped him become far more tactically disciplined without limiting his attacking flair.
Mendes has always stood out offensively thanks to his explosive pace, elite technique, precise crossing, and physical power. What changed at PSG was his defensive maturity—he now reads the game better, knows when to push forward and when to hold the line.
During PSG’s recent run to the European summit, Nuno Mendes was one of the key figures. His performances against top right-wingers such as Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), and even Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) did not go unnoticed.
His journey is remarkable. Growing up in poverty in Sintra, near Lisbon, Mendes could hardly have imagined such success. One childhood story captures his path perfectly: at age 11, after thinking he was being followed by a mugger, he armed himself with a kitchen knife—only to discover the man was a Sporting scout, trying to recruit him ahead of Benfica and Porto.
That moment marked the start of a meteoric rise. Sporting’s renowned academy reshaped him from an attacking midfielder into a left-back—and the rest is history.
Today, Nuno Mendes is considered by many to be the finest left-back in world football.