Brais Méndez

Brais Méndez
Méndez with Celta in 2018
Personal information
Full name Brais Méndez Portela[1]
Date of birth (1997-01-07) 7 January 1997[1]
Place of birth Mos, Spain
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Columbus Crew
Number 10
Youth career
2001–2002 Sárdoma
2002–2010 Santa Mariña
2010–2012 Villarreal
2012–2015 Celta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Celta B 56 (8)
2017–2022 Celta 153 (20)
2022–2026 Real Sociedad 122 (22)
2026– Columbus Crew 2 (1)
International career
2014 Spain U17 3 (0)
2015 Spain U18 2 (0)
2018 Spain U21 2 (0)
2018–2021 Spain 4 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 03:16, 16 August 2026 (UTC)

Brais Méndez Portela (born 7 January 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew.

He took part in 275 La Liga games over nine seasons for Celta and Real Sociedad, making 166 competitive appearances for both clubs (22 and 33 goals scored, respectively) and winning the 2025–26 Copa del Rey with the latter. In July 2026, he signed with the Columbus Crew.[2][3]

Méndez made his full debut for Spain in 2018.

Club career

Youth career

Born in Mos, Pontevedra, Galicia, Méndez played futsal with Sárdoma aged 5, moving to association football with Santa Mariña.[4] He joined Villarreal's youth setup in 2010, but left two years later due to homesickness.[5]

Celta

Méndez completed his development at Celta de Vigo.[6] He made his senior debut with their reserves on 7 September 2014, starting in a 1–0 Segunda División B away win against Real Murcia.[7]

Méndez scored his first senior goal on 4 September 2016, netting his team's second in a 3–1 victory at Palencia.[8] The following 21 August, after spending the whole preseason with the main squad, he renewed his contract until 2021.[9]

On 21 September 2017, Méndez made his professional – and La Liga – debut, starting in the 1–1 home draw against Getafe.[10] He scored his first goal in the competition on 31 March 2018, equalising a 1–1 away draw with Athletic Bilbao.[11]

On 30 July 2020, Méndez extended his contract until 2024.[12] The ensuing season was his most prolific with nine goals,[13] including both in a win over Alavés at the Balaídos Stadium on 20 December.[14]

Real Sociedad

On 6 July 2022, Real Sociedad reached an agreement with Celta for the transfer of Méndez, with the player signing a contract until 2028.[15] On his European debut on 8 September, he scored the only goal to help defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, through a penalty.[16]

Méndez also scored in his maiden appearance in the UEFA Champions League, opening an eventual 1–1 home draw against Inter Milan on 20 September 2023 in the group phase.[17]

Midway through the 2025–26 campaign, following the appointment of new head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, Méndez saw his minutes drastically reduced. He did score six times in all competitions.[18]

Columbus Crew

On 2 July 2026, Méndez was announced as a new signing for the Columbus Crew, signing a three-year deal.[19][20] He made his debut on 1 August, scoring through a free kick in a 2–2 draw away to Inter Miami.[21]

International career

After playing for Spain at under-17, under-18 and under-21 levels, Méndez was first called by the full side on 8 November 2018 for matches against Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.[22] He made his debut in the latter fixture, coming on as a 59th-minute substitute for Suso in the 1–0 friendly win in Las Palmas and scoring the only goal.[23]

Style of play

A highly technical player, Méndez has been praised for his passing range, vision and work-rate.[24][19][20]

Personal life

Méndez's father, Modesto (known as Pupi), was also a footballer. A forward, he appeared in one Segunda División match with Deportivo de La Coruña.[25][26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 August 2026[27][28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celta B 2014–15 Segunda División B 30———30
2015–16 70———70
2016–17 366——2[b]0386
2017–18 102——4[b]0142
Total 568000060628
Celta 2017–18 La Liga 20140——241
2018–19 31610——326
2019–20 31031——341
2020–21 34920——369
2021–22 37431——405
Total 15320132000016622
Real Sociedad 2022–23 La Liga 348518[c]2—4711
2023–24 325507[d]3—448
2024–25 2735312[c]2—448
2025–26 29620——316
Total 122221742770016633
Columbus Crew 2026 Major League Soccer 2100—3[e]253
Career total 333513062779239966
  1. ↑ Includes Copa del Rey
  2. 1 2 Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
  3. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ↑ Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[29]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 201811
202130
Total41
Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Méndez goal.[23][29]
List of international goals scored by Brais Méndez
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 November 2018Estadio Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain Bosnia and Herzegovina1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Real Sociedad

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Brais Méndez Portela". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Valero, Rafa (3 June 2026). "El Celta ve dificultades en la vuelta de Brais Méndez" [Celta see problems in Brais Méndez's return]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "O excéltico Brais Méndez deixa a Real Sociedade e seguirá a súa carreira nos Estados Unidos" [Former Celta man Brais Méndez leaves Real Sociedad and will continue his career in the United States]. La Voz de Galicia (in Galician). 2 July 2026. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Carballo, Pablo (6 May 2021). "Los años de Brais Méndez en Villarreal: «Tú tienes luz propia, haz que brille»" [Brais Méndez's years at Villarreal: "You have a light of your own, make it shine"]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Álvarez, Armando (10 February 2020). "Brais Méndez, nuevo valor del Santa Mariña que se muda al Villarreal" [Brais Méndez, new Santa Mariña asset who moves to Villarreal]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Lambea, Alberto (5 April 2018). "Brais Méndez, el hijo del delantero que ascendió con el "Fariña CF"" [Brais Méndez, the son of the forward who promoted with "Fariña CF"]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Al Celta B le basta con un gol" [A goal is enough for Celta B]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 8 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "El Celta B logra en Palencia el primer triunfo de la temporada" [Celta B get in Palencia their first triumph of the season]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 4 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  9. ↑ Garrido, Clemente (21 August 2017). "Brais Méndez amplía cuatro años su contrato con el Celta" [Brais Méndez extends four years his contract with Celta]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  10. ↑ García, Óscar (21 September 2017). "Ángel se cuela en la fiesta de Maxi" [Ángel crashes Maxi's party]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  11. ↑ Carnerero, Fernando (31 March 2018). "Al Athletic le sobró el añadido" [Athletic did not need the stoppage time]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  12. ↑ Garrido, Clemente (30 July 2020). "Oficial: Brais Méndez renueva con el Celta hasta 2024" [Official: Brais Méndez renews with Celta until 2024]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Brais Méndez, 150 veces celeste" [Brais Méndez, 150 times sky blue]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 24 January 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "Brais Méndez: "Estamos en un gran momento, tenemos que aprovecharlo"" [Brais Méndez: "We're in a great moment, we have to make the most of it"]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 20 December 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Brais es txuri urdin" [Brais is txuri urdin] (in Spanish). Real Sociedad. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  16. ↑ Stone, Simon (8 September 2022). "Manchester United 0–1 Real Sociedad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Mejías, Noelia (20 September 2023). "Definición de nota para estrenarse en Champions: el gol de Brais Méndez" [Top-notch finish in his Champions debut: Brais Méndez's goal] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  18. ↑ Gonzalo, Marta (7 May 2026). "La pérdida de peso de Brais Méndez sugiere movimientos en verano" [Brais Méndez's loss of importance suggests summer moves]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Columbus Crew acquire Brais Méndez as designated player". Columbus Crew. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Agreement reached for his transfer to Columbus Crew Soccer Club". Real Sociedad. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Aulbach, Dan (1 August 2026). "Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami replay, Brais Mendez earns 2–2 draw in debut". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Maroto, Joaquín (8 November 2018). "Jordi Alba recalled by Spain; Brais, Hermoso and Fornals make the list". Diario AS. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  23. 1 2 Bell, Arch (18 November 2018). "Spain edge Bosnia to end 2018". Marca. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  24. ↑ Murphy, Patrick (10 July 2026). "Inside the Crew's busy summer: Diego Rossi departure, new DPs and what's still to come". Massive Report. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "El día en que el padre de Brais Méndez defendió la camiseta del Deportivo" [The day Brais Méndez's father donned the shirt of Deportivo]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 21 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  26. ↑ Cudeiro, Juan Luis (8 November 2018). "Brais Méndez, seda celeste para La Roja" [Brais Méndez, sky-blue silk for La Roja]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  27. ↑ Brais Méndez at BDFutbol
  28. ↑ Brais Méndez at Soccerway
  29. 1 2 Brais Méndez at EU-Football.info (archived)
  30. ↑ Anderson, Jess (18 April 2026). "Atletico Madrid 2–2 Real Sociedad (Real Sociedad win 4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
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