Brais Méndez
Spanish footballer (born 1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brais Méndez Portela (born 7 January 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for La Liga club Real Sociedad.
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Méndez with Celta in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brais Méndez Portela[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 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 | Real Sociedad | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| 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– | Real Sociedad | 121 | (22) |
| 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 23:04, 22 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Celta
Born in Mos, Pontevedra, Galicia, Méndez joined RC Celta de Vigo's youth setup in 2012, from Villarreal CF.[2] On 7 September 2014, he made his senior debut with the reserves, starting in a 1–0 Segunda División B away win against Real Murcia CF.[3]
Méndez scored his first senior goal on 4 September 2016, netting his team's second in a 3–1 victory at CD Palencia.[4] The following 21 August, after spending the whole preseason with the main squad, he renewed his contract until 2021.[5]
On 21 September 2017, Méndez made his professional – and La Liga – debut, starting in the 1–1 home draw against Getafe CF.[6] He scored his first goal in the competition on 31 March 2018, equalising a 1–1 away draw with Athletic Bilbao.[7]
On 30 July 2020, Méndez extended his contract until 2024.[8] The ensuing season was his most prolific with nine goals,[9] including both in a win over Deportivo Alavés at Balaídos Stadium on 20 December.[10]
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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13]
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.[14] 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.[15]
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.[16][17]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Celta B | 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||||
| 2016–17 | 36 | 6 | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 38 | 6 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 4[a] | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 56 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 62 | 8 | ||
| Celta | 2017–18 | La Liga | 20 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 6 | ||||
| 2019–20 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 1 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 9 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 153 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 22 | ||
| Real Sociedad | 2022–23 | La Liga | 34 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 8[b] | 2 | — | 47 | 11 | |
| 2023–24 | 32 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7[c] | 3 | — | 44 | 8 | |||
| 2024–25 | 27 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 12[b] | 2 | — | 44 | 8 | |||
| 2025–26 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 6 | ||||
| Total | 121 | 22 | 17 | 4 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 165 | 33 | ||
| Career total | 330 | 50 | 30 | 6 | 27 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 393 | 63 | ||
- Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
International
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 18 November 2018 | Estadio Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Real Sociedad