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Nuno Mendes has an explosive 2024/25 season. |
Four years ago, the name Nuno Mendes was only known within Portugal, a young talent from Sporting who was recruited by PSG with many question marks. But today, people are talking about him as the world's best left-back - a man who not only made the top attacking superstars helpless, but also contributed greatly to the historic treble with PSG and the Nations League championship with the "European Selecao".
Not simply an all-round defender, Nuno Mendes has evolved into a “strategic weapon”. In Luis Enrique’s tactical scheme, he does not simply run on the wing but often moves into the middle to increase the number of players, support transitions and act as a bridge from the back line to the attack.
In the 2024/25 season, Mendes not only locked down stars like Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka or Lamine Yamal, but also directly scored and assisted at the most important moments - something that few defenders have done before at the continental level.
The Nations League final against Spain on June 9 was the pinnacle. With Portugal in a deadlock and on the brink of collapse, Mendes appeared at the right moment. A powerful shot equalised, then a blistering sprint and a perfectly timed cross for Cristiano Ronaldo to score.
There was no question that UEFA awarded him the “Man of the Match” award. It was not only an award, but also a recognition of his quiet leadership role - one who does not need the spotlight to shine.
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Nuno Mendes played well on the day Portugal beat Spain in the Nations League final. |
But behind that halo is a story of extraordinary determination. Before this season, Mendes was PSG’s “fragile child” – a great talent but haunted by injuries. His physical explosion in his playing style constantly overloaded him, and many people doubted his ability to maintain his peak.
But Luis Enrique changed all that. The Spanish coach not only adjusted the intensity of Mendes' tactical operations, but also built for him a free but scientific playing space - where he could maximize his energy, while knowing how to control it so as not to harm himself.
The Champions League title that PSG won, with Mendes' top performances in the quarter-finals (scoring in both legs against Aston Villa) and the final (against Inter Milan), was a testament to that remarkable maturity. And then, he brought that sublimation to the national team - where he was no longer a "back-up defender" for Bernardo Silva or Bruno Fernandes, but the center of every counter-attack, the inspiration for fighting, the one who decided the game from behind.
It is no surprise that the Portuguese press unanimously called Mendes' name. A Bola newspaper even compared him to the man who "pockets the world". An exaggerated comparison, but in this context, it is completely accurate. Because with his first goal for the national team after 37 appearances and the assist that helped Ronaldo shine, Mendes brought glory not only to Portugal, but also to his own journey of self-affirmation.
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Nuno Mendes is making everyone remember his name. |
PSG wasted no time in keeping their “treasure” until 2030. Premier League rumors are just a thing of the past. From a young player who arrived in Paris with mixed expectations and doubts, Nuno Mendes is now a symbol of perseverance, sublimation and tactical intelligence.
And if he and PSG win the FIFA Club World Cup this weekend, Nuno Mendes' season will be more than just a miracle - it will be a manifesto for a new era: one in which a left-back can be the protagonist on the journey to greatness.
Source: https://znews.vn/nuno-mendes-dang-la-hau-ve-trai-hay-nhat-the-gioi-post1559555.html
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