In the glitz and glamour of modern football, where flair and attacking numbers dominate headlines, defensive excellence—especially from full-backs—is often pushed to the background. Yet in the 2024–25 season, Nuno Mendes has quietly emerged as a rock at the back, going toe-to-toe with the world’s best wingers and coming out on top. And still, somehow, he remains underrated.
At 22 years old, Mendes has taken his game to a whole new level. But the footballing world isn’t talking about him enough. Why? Because his brilliance doesn’t always come with flashy stats—it comes in silence, in dominance, in control. And unfortunately, that’s not the kind of football the media often highlights.
Pocketing the Elite: Salah, Días, Saka, and Yamal
Mendes’ list of victims this season reads like a Ballon d’Or nominee sheet:
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s relentless goal machine, struggled to find rhythm against Mendes, who matched him stride-for-stride and closed every angle he could exploit.
Luis Díaz, known for his explosive dribbling, was locked out of the final third. Mendes didn’t fall for the feints or pace—he read the game like a veteran.
Bukayo Saka, England’s poster boy, was expected to run the show. Instead, he was kept in check, cut off from supply, and neutralized by Mendes’ anticipation and physicality.
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage prodigy and La Masia’s new jewel, couldn’t escape Mendes’ suffocating defensive display. Every trick was anticipated, every dribble stifled.
This isn’t luck. This is elite-level consistency.
A Complete Modern Full-Back
Mendes is more than just a defender. He has become one of the most balanced full-backs in Europe, combining composure with intensity. He doesn’t just bomb forward aimlessly—he chooses his moments. His overlaps are timed perfectly, his passing is clean, and his recovery speed makes him nearly impossible to beat one-on-one.
He currently boasts:
Over 65% success rate in ground duels
Top 5 in interceptions among full-backs in Europe
An average of 1.8 key passes per game in Ligue 1 and UCL
In short: he defends like a center-back, moves like a winger, and thinks like a midfielder.
Why He’s Underrated: The Media Blindspot
One of the biggest reasons Nuno Mendes is underrated is the media itself.
Mainstream coverage tends to focus on goal scorers, playmakers, and viral dribbles. It’s the attackers who dominate match highlights and headlines. Full-backs, especially defensive-minded ones, rarely get the same spotlight unless they’re racking up assists or scoring screamers. Mendes, who thrives on clean sheets, silent domination, and tactical discipline, isn’t seen as “media-friendly.”
The media narrative is also biased toward certain leagues. Ligue 1, despite being full of talent, is treated as a “farmers’ league” in comparison to the Premier League or La Liga. Even when PSG wins, the headlines are often about Mbappé or Dembélé—not the man shutting down the opposing winger for 90 minutes.
Add to that the fact that Mendes doesn’t seek attention—no flashy interviews, no social media antics—and he gets overlooked, even when he’s clearly outperforming more hyped full-backs across Europe.
A Star in the Shadows, But Not for Long
With Euro 2024 concluded and club football entering its critical phase, Portugal will lean on Mendes not just as a defensive anchor, but as a leader. His intelligence, positioning, and versatility make him irreplaceable.
This season, he hasn’t just defended—he’s dominated. In silence, in poise, in complete control. And while the media might continue to ignore him in favor of flashy attackers, true football fans and analysts know what they’re witnessing: a generational full-back hitting his prime.
It’s time the world wakes up. Nuno Mendes isn’t just underrated—he’s being neglected by a system that doesn’t know how to celebrate defensive mastery. But real ones see it. And the smart ones are taking notes.
