Ryan Mendes Explained

Ryan Mendes
Fullname:Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça
Birth Date:1990 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Mindelo, Cape Verde
Height:1.78 m
Currentclub:Kocaelispor
Clubnumber:20
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:Batuque FC
Years1:2008–2012
Clubs1:Le Havre
Caps1:84
Goals1:20
Years2:2010
Clubs2:Le Havre II
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2012–2017
Clubs3:Lille
Caps3:54
Goals3:7
Years4:2014–2016
Clubs4:Lille II
Caps4:2
Goals4:1
Years5:2015–2016
Clubs5:Nottingham Forest (loan)
Caps5:35
Goals5:2
Years6:2017–2018
Clubs6:Kayserispor
Caps6:39
Goals6:5
Years7:2018–2020
Clubs7:Sharjah
Caps7:44
Goals7:20
Years8:2020–2023
Clubs8:Al Nasr
Caps8:68
Goals8:15
Years9:2023–2024
Clubs9:Fatih Karagümrük
Caps9:23
Goals9:4
Years10:2024–
Clubs10:Kocaelispor
Caps10:2
Goals10:2
Nationalyears1:2006
Nationalteam1:Cape Verde U16
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2007
Nationalteam2:Cape Verde U21
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2010–
Nationalteam3:Cape Verde
Nationalcaps3:79
Nationalgoals3:18
Club-Update:18 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:23:01, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça (born 8 January 1990) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Kocaelispor and the Cape Verde national team.

He spent most of his club career in France with Le Havre and Lille, and in the UAE Pro League with Sharjah and Al-Nasr. He also had brief spells in England's Championship with Nottingham Forest, and the Turkish Süper Lig with Kayserispor and Fatih Karagümrük.

Mendes made his senior international debut for Cape Verde in 2010, earning over 70 caps. He represented the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023.

Club career

Le Havre

Born in Mindelo, São Vicente, Mendes began his career with hometown club Batuque FC. In 2008 he was sold to Le Havre AC,[1] with whom he played his first game in Ligue 1 on 13 May 2009 against AS Saint-Étienne, as a late substitute for Maxime Baca in a 4–2 home loss.[2] [3] He was monitored by Leicester City scout Steve Walsh, who instead signed teammate Riyad Mahrez to the club.[4]

In the 2011–12 Ligue 2, Mendes was joint third top scorer with 13 goals.[5]

Lille

On 1 September 2012, Mendes returned to Ligue 1 on a four-year deal at Lille. He joined for a €3 million fee – the club was in a good financial place after the sale of Eden Hazard to Chelsea – and his monthly salary rose from €7,000 to €120,000.[6] He missed the second half of his first season after having surgery on a right ankle tendon and remained on the sidelines until December 2013. He told the league's website that he was not going to retire despite the injuries.[7]

Mendes's opportunities at Lille were reduced after the dismissal of manager Rudi Garcia in 2013. On 4 September 2015, Mendes joined English side Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan.[8] He scored his first goal for the club twenty days later, opening a 1–1 draw with Huddersfield Town.[9]

Later career

On 31 January 2017, Mendes signed for Kayserispor – ranked 17th in Turkey's Süper Lig – until the summer of 2020.[10] In July 2018, he terminated his deal and moved to Sharjah FC of the UAE Pro League on a three-year deal.[11] He won the league in his first season.[12] [13]

Remaining in the United Arab Emirates, Mendes moved to Al-Nasr SC in Dubai on a two-year contract in July 2020.[14] On 10 August 2023, he went back to Turkey's top division and signed a two-year contract with Fatih Karagümrük.[15]

International career

Mendes was a member of the Cape Verde under-21 national team[16] and played formerly with the under-16s an international tournament in Gonfreville-L'Orcher.

He made his debut for the senior team on 11 August 2010, as a 58th-minute substitute for Babanco in a 1–0 friendly loss away to Senegal. His first international goal was scored on 8 October 2011, in a 2–1 loss at Zimbabwe in 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

In 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Mendes scored three goals in two wins over Madagascar.[17] [18] At the finals in South Africa, Cape Verde's first major tournament, he played all four games of a run to the quarter-finals.[19] [20] [21] [22]

Mendes scored the decider on 10 September 2014 as Cape Verde won 2–1 against Zambia in Praia, in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[23] He was called up for the finals in Equatorial Guinea,[24] playing in all three draws of a group-stage elimination.

In November 2020, he reached 50 international caps, for which he was rewarded with a shirt and plaque the following March.[25] A year later, he was called up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon[26] and appeared in two of Cape Verde's matches at the tournament.[27]

In December 2023, Mendes was named in Cape Verde's squad for his fourth Africa Cup of Nations – the 2023 tournament in the Ivory Coast.[28] He captained the team in their opening two matches of the tournament – wins against Ghana (2–1), and Mozambique (3–0) – scoring and being named man of the match in the latter.[29] He later scored the only goal from a penalty in a 1–0 victory over Mauritania, which qualified his country to the quarter-finals.[30] date=20 June 2024

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Le Havre2008–09Ligue 1100010
2009–10Ligue 21410010151
2010–113240020344
2011–12341331223916
2012–13320032
Total842031529223
Le Havre II2010–11CFA1010
Lille2012–13Ligue 1920030122
2013–1416330193
2014–151920020101313
2015–16300030
2016–1770002191
Total5473020152749
Lille II2013–14CFA1111
2016–171010
Total2121
Nottingham Forest (loan)2015–16Championship3220000322
Kayserispor2016–17Süper Lig611071
2017–1833463397
Total39573468
Career total212351347215224743

International

Scores and results list Cape Verde's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mendes goal.

List of international goals scored by Ryan Mendes
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 8 October 2011 Estádio da Várzea, Praia, Cape Verde 2–0 2–1 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2 29 February 2012 Stade Municipal de Mahamasina, Antananarivo, Madagascar 1–0 4–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 16 June 2012 Estádio da Várzea, Praia, Cape Verde 1–0 3–1 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 3–0
5 10 September 2014 Estádio da Várzea, Praia, Cape Verde 2–1 2–1 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
6 6 September 2015 Petro Sport Stadium, New Cairo, Egypt 2–1 2–1 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
7 1 June 2018 July 5, 1962 Stadium, Algiers, Algeria 2–2 3–2 Friendly
8 18 November 2019 Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde, Praia, Cape Verde 2–1 2–2 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9 7 October 2020 Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra 1–0 2–1 Friendly
10 2–1
11 26 March 2021 Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde, Praia, Cape Verde 3–1 3–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
12 10 October 2021 Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, Mindelo, Cape Verde 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
13 23 September 2022 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain 2–1 2–1 Friendly
14 28 March 2023 Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa 1–0 1–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
15 21 November 2023 Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa 1–0 2–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
16 19 January 2024 Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 2–0 3–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
17 29 January 2024 Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1–0 1–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
18 21 March 2024 Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1–0 1–0 2024 FIFA Series

Honours

Sharjah

2018–19[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Actualité à la une en Normandie, toutes les informations locales. www.paris-normandie.fr. fr-FR. 28 March 2018. dead. https://archive.today/20120906144935/http://www.paris-normandie.fr/index.php/cms/13/article/192098/Mendes_le_but_de_sa_vie. 6 September 2012.
  2. Web site: Ryan Mendes Da Graca . de . fussballdaten.de . 26 May 2011.
  3. News: Résultat et résumé Le Havre - Saint-Étienne, Ligue 1, 35e journée, Mercredi 13 Mai 2009 . 1 December 2021 . L'Équipe . 13 May 2009 . French.
  4. News: Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez not target of original scouting mission says head of recruitment. 26 April 2016. Leicester Mercury. 22 October 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151129020313/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Riyad-target-scouting-mission/story-28029571-detail/story.html. 29 November 2015.
  5. News: Ligue 2. Fauré double Ghilas sur le fil pour le titre de meilleur buteur . 1 December 2021 . Ouest-France . 18 May 2012 . French.
  6. News: Losc: Salaire, indemnité, les chiffres du transfert de Ryan Mendes ! . 1 December 2021 . Sportune . 1 September 2012 . French.
  7. News: Mondal. Subhankar. Lille's Ryan Mendes dismisses retirement talks. 10 September 2017. Sports Mole. 20 November 2013.
  8. News: Nelson Oliveira and Ryan Mendes join Nottingham Forest on loan. 28 September 2015. BBC Sport. 4 September 2015.
  9. News: Huddersfield 1–1 Nottm Forest. 28 September 2015. BBC Sport. 24 September 2015. Gary. Smee.
  10. News: Martins . Sébastien . OFFICIEL : Ryan Mendes quitte Lille . 1 December 2021 . Goal . 31 January 2017 . French.
  11. News: Ryan Mendes leaves Kayserispor for UAE club . 1 December 2021 . Turkish Football News . 3 July 2018.
  12. Web site: Lomas. Mark. Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes aiming for unlikely UAE title. 24 April 2019. BBC Sport.
  13. News: Sharjah crowned champions; Dibba and Emirates relegated . 1 December 2021 . Gulf Today . 26 May 2019.
  14. News: Futebol: Ryan Mendes troca o Al Sharjah pelo AL Nasr [''sic''] ]. 1 December 2021 . A Nação . 8 July 2020 . Portuguese.
  15. Web site: Fatih Karagümrük'ten sol kanat transferi. 10 August 2023. ntvspor.net. tr. 27 August 2023.
  16. Web site: Criolosports.com: Ryan Mendes estreia-se no Le Havre. Criolosports. 15 May 2009. Criolosports.com. 28 March 2018.
  17. News: CAN 2013: Le Cap Vert domine Madagascar . 1 December 2021 . 29 February 2012 . French.
  18. News: CAN 2013 : Le Cap Vert écarte Madagascar . 1 December 2021 . Afrik Foot . 16 June 2012 . French.
  19. News: Fottrell . Stephen . South Africa 0–0 Cape Verde . 1 December 2021 . 19 January 2013.
  20. News: Fottrell . Stephen . Morocco 1–1 Cape Verde Islands . 1 December 2021 . BBC Sport . 23 January 2013.
  21. News: Fottrell . Stephen . Cape Verde 2–1 Angola . 1 December 2021 . BBC Sport . 27 January 2013.
  22. News: Hughes . Ian . Ghana 2–0 Cape Verde . 1 December 2021 . BBC Sport . 2 February 2013.
  23. News: CAN: Zé Luís e Ryan Mendes dão triunfo a Cabo Verde . 1 December 2021 . Record . 10 September 2014 . Portuguese.
  24. News: Cardoso da Silva: "Convocatória é correcta para Cabo Verde alcançar um bom resultado" . 1 December 2021 . Radio France International . 24 December 2014 . Portuguese.
  25. News: Furtado . António . Ryan Mendes: 50 jogos pela seleção nacional de futebol . 1 December 2021 . Gaft Sports . 25 March 2021 . Portuguese.
  26. News: Afcon 2021: Ethiopia and Cape Verde squads for finals in Cameroon . 24 December 2021 . BBC Sport . 23 December 2021.
  27. Web site: RYAN MENDES. 21 January 2024. ESPN.
  28. Web site: Cape Verde name veterans Mendes, Vozinha in African Cup of Nations squad. 30 December 2023. 21 January 2023. Reuters.
  29. Web site: “We have achieved our first target” - Ryan Mendes after qualification. 19 January 2024. 21 January 2024. CAF Online.
  30. Web site: Cape Verde 1–0 Mauritania . BBC Sport . 29 January 2024 .