Nuno Mendes stated his case to be considered the world’s best left-back in 2024-25, after a sublime season for club and country.
The 23-year-old has made 49 appearances so far this season (including the Club World Cup) for Paris Saint-Germain. In that time, Mendes has scored six goals, provided six assists and played 3,751 minutes.
The PSG and Portugal star racked up an eye-watering five trophies across the campaign. He won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions, before lifting the Champions League and — most recently — the Uefa Nations League with A Seleção.
A defensive stalwart
Mendes started 16 of PSG’s 17 Champions League games in 2024-25. He scored four goals, provided two assists and played 1,449 minutes.
The Portugal international was a key figure in the Champions League glory, contributing to six clean sheets in the competition.
He neutralised Bukayo Saka and Mo Salah in PSG’s Champions League meetings with Arsenal and Liverpool respectively. He won 23 duels and made 13 tackles across two legs in the quarter-finals against Liverpool. That’s more than any other player who featured in the last 16 tie against the Reds.
Those performances encapsulate a season that saw Mendes impress in a host of continental clashes. He won the most duels and ground duels in the Champions League, with 119 and 98, respectively.
The left-back’s role is extremely interesting in Luis Enrique’s side. He offers positional versatility on the left, while having the ability to hold width, play inside and even become a third central defender.
This has allowed Enrique to bring more coaching details to the forefront of his plans this season, with fluid rotations between the midfielders, forwards and full-backs.
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Attacking dynamism
Mendes offers a brilliant blend between defensive colossus and attacking dynamism. He wins his duels on the defensive end, but also has the carrying ability and crossing quality to affect the game further forward.
The 23-year-old completed 1.18 of his 3.22 crosses per 90 minutes in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season. He also finished top in his position for big opportunities conjured per 90 with 0.59.
Mendes has the ability to take players out of the game via take-ons, completing 1.67 of his 2.85 attempted take-ons per 90 (58.5% success rate).
And lastly, Mendes was key to Portugal’s success in the Nations League last month. He shut down Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal in last month’s final — putting in a man-of-the-match performance as Roberto Martínez’s men triumphed on penalties.
The 23-year-old converted his penalty in Munich, to round off a display that saw him win seven duels, complete three clearances and make a hat-trick of tackles. No player dribbled past him over 120 minutes of football.
The evidence is pretty compelling. Although the likes of Alejandro Balde and Milos Kerkez have enjoyed eye-catching individual campaigns, no left-back can hold a candle to Mendes’ unique combination of big-game performances and wide-ranging skill set — not to mention that sensational trophy haul.
It’s been a season to remember for PSG’s No.25, and there’s surely even more to come from the talented youngster.