João Mendes (footballer, born 1994) explained

João Mendes
Full Name:João Sabino Mendes Neto Saraiva[1]
Birth Date:21 October 1994
Birth Place:Matosinhos, Portugal
Height:1.75 m
Position:Attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Vitória Guimarães
Clubnumber:17
Youthyears1:2002–2007
Youthclubs1:Leixões
Youthyears2:2007–2008
Youthclubs2:Pedras Rubras
Youthyears3:2008–2012
Youthclubs3:Leixões
Youthyears4:2012–2013
Youthclubs4:Gondomar
Years1:2013–2014
Caps1:15
Goals1:2
Years2:2014–2015
Clubs2:Gouveia
Caps2:30
Goals2:5
Years3:2015
Caps3:7
Goals3:1
Years4:2015–2016
Caps4:19
Goals4:4
Years5:2016–2019
Caps5:56
Goals5:5
Years6:2018–2019
Clubs6:Tondela (loan)
Caps6:4
Goals6:0
Years7:2019–2021
Caps7:6
Goals7:0
Years8:2019–2020
Clubs8:Académica (loan)
Caps8:20
Goals8:3
Years9:2021
Clubs9:Estoril (loan)
Caps9:2
Goals9:0
Years10:2021–2023
Caps10:55
Goals10:5
Years11:2023–
Caps11:26
Goals11:7
Club-Update:16:07, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

João Sabino Mendes Neto Saraiva (born 21 October 1994), known as Mendes, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Primeira Liga club Vitória de Guimarães.

Club career

Born in Matosinhos, Porto District, Mendes played youth football for four clubs, notably having two spells at local Leixões SC. He spent his first four seasons as a senior in the third division, representing in quick succession Gondomar SC, CD Gouveia, A.D. Nogueirense, CD Operário and U.D. Oliveirense. In 2016–17, he scored three goals in 27 matches to help the latter team to promotion to the LigaPro.[2]

Mendes made his professional debut with Oliveirense on 27 August 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 away loss against F.C. Famalicão.[3] He scored his first goal in division two the following 11 April, but in a 3–2 away defeat to C.D. Cova da Piedade.[4]

In summer 2018, Mendes signed with Primeira Liga side C.D. Tondela on a one-year loan.[5] He appeared in his first game in the competition on 2 December, replacing Bruno Monteiro in the first half of the 3–2 loss at Portimonense SC;[6] the move was made permanent at the end of that spell.[7]

Mendes was loaned to Académica de Coimbra of the second tier on 30 August 2019.[8] In February 2021, also on loan, he joined G.D. Estoril Praia in the same league.[9]

Mendes remained in division two for 2021–22, on a contract at G.D. Chaves.[10] He contributed 24 appearances (26 overall) and three goals to help them return to the top flight,[11] adding 31, two goals and two assists in the following campaign as they comfortably retained their status.[12]

On 14 June 2023, Mendes joined Vitória S.C. on a two-year deal.[13] On 2 September, he was sent off with a straight red card early into an eventual 4–0 away loss to S.L. Benfica.[14] On 8 October, he scored a first-half brace in the 3–1 victory at Famalicão.[15]

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gondomar2013–14Campeonato Nacional de Seniores15210162
Gouveia2014–15Campeonato Nacional de Seniores30510315
Nogueirense2015–16Campeonato de Portugal711081
Operário2015–16Campeonato de Portugal19400194
Oliveirense2016–17Campeonato de Portugal27320293
2017–18LigaPro2921040342
Total5653040635
Tondela (loan)2018–19Primeira Liga40203090
Tondela2019–20Primeira Liga00000000
2020–21Primeira Liga601171
Total1003130161
Académica (loan)2019–20LigaPro2032000223
Estoril (loan)2020–21Liga Portugal 220100030
Chaves2021–22Liga Portugal 22431010263
2022–23Primeira Liga3120020332
Total5551030595
Vitória Guimarães2023–24Primeira Liga267500020337
Career total240321811002027033
  1. Web site: João Mendes. Mais Futebol. Portuguese. 23 October 2020.
  2. Web site: Quando é preciso dar um passo atrás para dar... dois à frente?. When does one have to take one step back to take... two forward?. Fair Play. Marcelo. Brito. Portuguese. 21 June 2017. 6 February 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190207014901/https://fairplay.pt/futebol/oliveirense-um-passo-atras-dar-dois-frente-2/. 7 February 2019.
  3. News: Famalicão-Oliveirense, 1–0: Golo solitário de Nuno Diogo define encontro. Famalicão-Oliveirense, 1–0: Lone goal from Nuno Diogo settles match. Record. Portuguese. 27 August 2017. 6 February 2019.
  4. News: Cova da Piedade opera reviravolta e foge dos lugares de descida. Cova da Piedade manage to come from behind and leave relegation zone. O Jogo. Portuguese. 11 April 2018. 6 February 2019.
  5. News: Médio João Mendes reforça Tondela. Midfielder João Mendes bolsters Tondela. Record. Portuguese. 2 July 2018. 10 October 2023.
  6. Web site: Do céu ao inferno. From heaven to hell. C.D. Tondela. Portuguese. 2 December 2018. 23 October 2020.
  7. News: João Mendes deve continuar. João Mendes likely to continue. Record. Portuguese. 5 June 2019. 10 October 2023.
  8. News: João Mendes oficializado na Académica. João Mendes made official at Académica. Record. Portuguese. 30 August 2019. 11 September 2019.
  9. News: Estoril assegura empréstimo de João Mendes até final da temporada. Estoril confirm João Mendes loan until the end of the season. Record. Portuguese. 1 February 2021. 10 October 2023.
  10. News: Campeão pelo Estoril e agora reforço para o meio-campo do Chaves. Champion for Estoril and now addition to Chaves' midfield. O Jogo. Portuguese. 5 July 2021. 10 October 2023.
  11. Web site: Desportivo de Chaves mantém João Teixeira, João Correia e Obiora para regresso à I Liga. Desportivo de Chaves retain João Teixeira, João Correia and Obiora for return to I League. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Portuguese. 24 June 2022. 10 October 2023.
  12. Web site: Jogador do Chaves muito próximo de assinar pelo Vitória SC. Chaves player very close to signing for Vitória SC. Bola Na Rede. Diogo. Ribeiro. Portuguese. 14 May 2023. 10 October 2023.
  13. News: João Mendes, reforço do Vitória: "É o momento para dar este passo, sinto-me preparado". João Mendes, Vitória's addition: "This is the time to make the move, I feel ready". O Jogo. Portuguese. 14 June 2023. 10 October 2023.
  14. News: Benfica sobe à liderança partilhada após goleada ao Vitória. Benfica climb to joint-first following rout of Vitória. Diário de Notícias. Portuguese. 2 September 2023. 10 October 2023.
  15. Web site: Famalicão-V. Guimarães, 1–3 (destaques). Famalicão-V. Guimarães, 1–3 (highlights). Mais Futebol. Nuno. Dantas. Portuguese. 8 October 2023. 10 October 2023.

Honours

Estoril

2020–21[16] [10]