Pedro Mendes (footballer, born October 1990)

Pedro Mendes
Mendes with Rennes in 2015
Personal information
Full name Pedro Filipe Teodósio Mendes[1]
Date of birth (1990-10-01) 1 October 1990[1]
Place of birth Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Youth career
1998–2005 Real Massamá
2005–2009 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 Sporting CP 3 (0)
2009–2010 → Real Massamá (loan) 22 (0)
2010–2011 → Servette (loan) 15 (0)
2011–2012 → Real Madrid B (loan) 23 (1)
2011 → Real Madrid (loan) 0 (0)
2012–2013 Sporting CP B 30 (1)
2013–2014 Parma 6 (0)
2014 Sassuolo 9 (0)
2014–2015 Parma 21 (0)
2015–2017 Rennes 41 (0)
2017–2023 Montpellier 105 (5)
2021–2023 Montpellier B 4 (0)
2023–2024 Estrela Amadora 13 (0)
2025–2026 Dila 22 (1)
2026 Feirense 5 (0)
Total 319 (8)
International career
2006–2007 Portugal U17 10 (0)
2007–2008 Portugal U18 6 (0)
2008–2009 Portugal U19 16 (0)
2009–2010 Portugal U20 5 (0)
2011–2012 Portugal U21 13 (1)
2018 Portugal 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Pedro Filipe Teodósio Mendes (born 1 October 1990) is a former professional footballer who played as a central defender. Born in Switzerland, he represented Portugal internationally.

Club career

Sporting CP

Born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland to Portuguese parents,[2] Mendes reached Sporting CP's youth system in 2005, aged 14. In his first two senior seasons he played with Real SC (third division) and Servette FC (Swiss Challenge League),[3] in both cases on loan, helping the latter club to promotion.

In the summer of 2011, still owned by Sporting, Mendes joined Real Madrid, being assigned to the B team.[4] He made his debut with the main squad on 7 December, coming on as a substitute for Álvaro Arbeloa midway through the second half of a 3–0 away win against AFC Ajax in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League;[5] during his spell at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, several of his Castilla teammates expressed their dissatisfaction over what they saw as a preferential treatment by first-team manager José Mourinho, the player's compatriot.[6]

Mendes played his first match in the Primeira Liga with Sporting on 27 January 2013, when he replaced the injured Khalid Boulahrouz at half-time of the 1–1 home draw with Vitória de Guimarães.[7][8]

Parma

Returning to Sporting for the 2012–13 campaign, Mendes was made captain of the reserves who competed in the Segunda Liga, also appearing sporadically for the main squad.[9][8] On 28 May 2013, he signed a five-year contract with Parma F.C. in Serie A as a free agent.[10]

On 21 January 2014, Mendes moved to fellow top-tier club US Sassuolo Calcio in a co-ownership deal with Parma.[11] In June he was bought by the latter, who sold Raman Chibsah and Nicola Sansone to the former on the same day.[12]

Rennes

Mendes joined Stade Rennais F.C. of France on 6 July 2015, after agreeing to a four-year contract.[13] He made his debut in Ligue 1 on 8 August, in a 2–1 away loss to SC Bastia.[14]

Montpellier

On 18 July 2017, Mendes signed with Montpellier HSC of the same league.[15][16] He first appeared for them on 5 August, playing the entire 1–0 home victory over Stade Malherbe Caen,[17] and scored his first goal on 16 September by heading from the corner kick as the visitors defeated ES Troyes AC by the same score.[18]

Mendes became a key part of Michel Der Zakarian's resolute Montpellier side over the following seasons, partnering veterans Daniel Congré and Hilton in a three-man central defence.[19] In October 2018, he extended his contract for two more years up to 2023.[20]

Mendes featured rarely in his final two years at the Stade de la Mosson, due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury contracted in April 2021.[21] In an interview to Portuguese website Zerozero, he blasted the club's medical staff over his recovery process.[22]

Later career

On 24 August 2023, Mendes returned to Portugal one decade after leaving, joining C.F. Estrela da Amadora who had just returned to the top flight following a lengthy absence;[23] the terms of the deal were not disclosed.[24] In June 2024, he left.[25]

In February 2025, Mendes moved to the Georgian Erovnuli Liga with FC Dila Gori.[26] Eleven months later, the 35-year-old joined Portuguese second-tier side C.D. Feirense on a contract until the end of the season.[27]

Mendes announced his retirement in July 2026.[28]

International career

Mendes won exactly 50 caps for Portugal at youth level, including 13 for the under-21 team for whom he scored in a 1–1 home draw against Poland for the 2013 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.[29] He made his only full appearance on 14 October 2018, when he replaced S.L. Benfica's Rúben Dias in the 56th minute of the 3–1 friendly win over Scotland at Hampden Park.[30]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 November 2025[31][32]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Massamá (loan) 2009–10 Segunda Divisão 2202 1——241
Servette (loan) 2010–11 Challenge League 1500 0——150
Real Madrid B (loan) 2011–12 Segunda División B 231———231
Real Madrid (loan) 2011–12 La Liga 0 00 0—1[c]010
Sporting CP 2012–13 Primeira Liga 300 00 00 030
Sporting CP B 2012–13 Segunda Liga 311———311
Parma 2013–14 Serie A 6020——80
Sassuolo 2013–14 Serie A 900 0——90
Parma 2014–15 Serie A 21020——230
Rennes 2015–16 Ligue 1 2200 020—240
2016–17 Ligue 1 190100 0—200
Total 4101020—440
Montpellier 2017–18 Ligue 1 3413020—391
2018–19 Ligue 1 3110010—321
2019–20 Ligue 1 1610020—181
2020–21 Ligue 1 22220——242
2021–22 Ligue 1 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
2022–23 Ligue 1 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Total 10555050—1155
Montpellier B 2021–22 Championnat National 2 1 0 — — — 1 0
2022–23 Championnat National 3 3 0 — — — 3 0
Total 4 0 — — — 4 0
Estrela Amadora 2023–24 Primeira Liga 13 0 0 0 0 0 — 13 0
Dila 2025 Erovnuli Liga 22 1 3 0 0 0 — 25 1
Career total 315815170103389

Honours

Real Madrid Castilla

Dila

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pedro Mendes" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Suíça quer Pedro Mendes para o Euro'2016" [Switzerland wants Pedro Mendes for Euro'2016]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 September 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "Central Pedro Mendes no Servette" [Stopper Pedro Mendes to Servette]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 July 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  4. ↑ López, Gabi (20 August 2011). "Pedro Mendes ya es nuevo fichaje del Real Madrid – B" [Pedro Mendes is already new Real Madrid – B signing] (in Spanish). Nuevo Fútbol. Retrieved 19 May 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ Magallón, Fernando; O'Donnell, Michael J. (7 December 2011). "Ajax 0–3 Real Madrid". Real Madrid CF. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Indignación en la cantera del Madrid por el supuesto trato de favor a Pedro Mendes" [Outrage in Madrid youth system for alleged favouring of Pedro Mendes]. Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 8 December 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Sporting e Vitória de Guimarães empatam 1–1" [Sporting and Vitória de Guimarães draw 1–1]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 27 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Mendes agarra lugar" [Mendes grabs a place]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Betinho e Pedro Mendes vão ao Bonfim" [Betinho and Pedro Mendes go to the Bonfim]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 3 November 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Parma sign Pedro Mendes". Forza Italian Football. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ufficiale: al Sassuolo arrivano Mendes, Rosi e Sansone, al Parma vanno Rossini e Schelotto" [Official: Mendes, Rosi and Sansone arrive at Sassuolo, Rossini and Schelotto go to Parma.] (in Italian). U.S. Sassuolo. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ Razzini, Pietro (19 June 2014). "Compartecipazioni: Sansone e Chibsah sono del Sassuolo" [Co-ownership: Sansone and Chibsah are Sassuolo's]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Pedro Mendes, nouveau défenseur Rouge et Noir" [Pedro Mendes, new Black and Red defender] (in French). Stade Rennais. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  14. ↑ Gordon, Connor (8 August 2015). "SC Bastia 2–1 Stade Rennais: 10 men Corsicans hold on". Vavel. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  15. ↑ Ghazi, Bilel (13 July 2017). "Montpellier: Giovanni Sio et Pedro Mendes (Rennes) arrivent" [Montpellier: Giovanni Sio and Pedro Mendes (Rennes) arrive]. L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  16. ↑ "Giovanni Sio et Pedro Mendes se sont officiellement engagés à Montpellier" [Giovanni Sio and Pedro Mendes officially committed to Montpellier]. L'Équipe (in French). 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "Football / Ligue 1: Montpellier domine Caen en pensant à "Loulou" (1–0)" [Football / Ligue 1: Montpellier dominate Caen while thinking of "Loulou" (1–0)]. Midi Libre (in French). 5 August 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  18. ↑ "Mendes goal downs Troyes". Ligue 1. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  19. ↑ White, Adam; Devin, Eric (21 September 2020). "Michel Der Zakarian and Téji Savanier are making Montpellier marvellous". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Oficial: Pedro Mendes renova com o Montpellier" [Official: Pedro Mendes renews with Montpellier] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  21. ↑ Queneutte, Bertrand (23 August 2022). "Ligue 1 – Pedro Mendes, défenseur de Montpellier: "J'ai touché le fond et pleuré pas mal de fois"" [Ligue 1 – Pedro Mendes, Montpellier defender: "I've hit rock bottom and cried like hell"] (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "Montpellier defender Pedro Mendes furious with club's medical staff over ACL recovery". OneFootball. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  23. ↑ "Pedro Mendes regressa a Portugal e reforça Estrela da Amadora" [Pedro Mendes returns to Portugal and reinforces Estrela da Amadora]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 24 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "OFICIAL: Pedro Mendes é reforço do Estrela" [OFFICIAL: Pedro Mendes is addition to Estrela] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  25. ↑ "Pedro Mendes deixa E. Amadora ao fim de uma temporada" [Pedro Mendes leaves E. Amadora at the end of one season]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  26. ↑ "გორის დილამ პორტუგალიელი მცველი დაიმატა" [Gori Dila add Portuguese defender] (in Georgian). Goal. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  27. ↑ Marques dos Santos, Pedro (29 January 2026). "Oficial: Pedro Mendes é reforço do Feirense" [Official: Pedro Mendes is addition to Feirense]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "Pedro Mendes termina carreira de jogador" [Pedro Mendes ends playing career] (in Portuguese). Sindicato dos Jogadores. 6 July 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Skorupski heroics earn a point for Poland". UEFA. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  30. ↑ "Bruma fires rocket to seal routine win for Portugal against Scotland". The Guardian. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  31. ↑ Pedro Mendes at Soccerway
  32. ↑ Pedro Mendes at WorldFootball.net
  33. ↑ De la Riva, Mario (24 May 2019). "¿Qué es de la última plantilla del Castilla que subió a Segunda?" [What happened to the last Castilla squad to get promoted to Segunda?]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  34. ↑ "Parabéns Pedro Mendes e Tiago Ilori" [Congratulations Pedro Mendes and Tiago Ilori] (in Portuguese). Facebook. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
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