Recruited in August 2021 by Leonardo (for a total of 45 million euros), while he was coming out of his very first professional season at Sporting, Nuno Mendes has come a long way. The powerful left back, now 23 years old, has become a very high level player under the orders of Luis Enrique. He is one of the essential captains of the Rouge et Bleu after having adapted to the football of the Asturian coach. He plays on the left of the three-man defense in the offensive phase and regularly brings the surplus, on the wing as in the center.
Statistically, Nuno Mendes is having the best season of his career with four goals and five assists in Ligue 1, as well as two goals and two assists in the Champions League. The Portuguese international is in 38 matches in all competitions after a long 2024-2025 season of 53 matches with PSG and 10 matches with the Seleçao while still being the starter!
Nuno Mendes will be voted best left back in Ligue 1 for the fourth time on Monday May 11 during the UNFP Trophies, but can he win the title of best in the French championship? It is the choice of Paul-Georges Ntep, the former French international now a consultant on Ligue 1+.
More Dembélé than Nuno Mendes?
Sunday evening, the TV channel’s former players were invited to give their best player of the season in L1. If Guillaume Hoarau imagines a double for Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©, best player in Ligue 1 in title (and incidentally Ballon d’Or 2025), Adil Rami and BenoĂ®t Cheyrou, two former OM, opt for Mason Greenwood, second best scorer in Ligue 1 but very inconsistent.
PSG cracks Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi as well as Florian Thauvin, Corentin Tolisso, Ilan Kebbal or even Valentin Rongier, Valentin Barco and Moussa Niakhaté could complete the eleven of the season.
