Nuno Mendes has become a beast, former team-mate reveals his transformation

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·20 January 2026

Nuno Mendes has become a beast, former team-mate reveals his transformation

Nuno Mendes, the 23-year-old left-back for Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal, has for some time now established himself among the best in the world at his position. However, this trajectory was not always a given, despite certain qualities. In L’Equipe this Tuesday, Gonçalo Batalha, a 23-year-old midfielder for AC Marinhense (Portuguese 4th division) who played alongside him during their youth training at Sporting Portugal, recounts the turning point.

“That’s when he realized what he wanted to become.”

“Nuno has always been a shy and reserved boy, but with an incredible sense of humor. We played together from a very young age. Back then, Nuno wasn’t yet the ‘monster’ he is today, but he already had qualities that set him apart from the others. He was very fast and already accelerated with the ball. I remember a match in Loures, when we were U17s, where he suffered a very serious injury. He had broken his leg. That’s when he realized what he wanted to become. Not only did he recover from that injury, but he also evolved a lot physically and mentally, he became a hard worker and has continued to progress with the humility he still shows today.

“I’m not at all surprised.”

Then he made his debut with Sporting’s first team and the signs of enormous talent began to appear, but few people knew what was behind it all, all the effort and hard work. I’m not at all surprised that he’s the best left-back in the world and I sincerely believe he can aspire to the title of best player in the world.”

Many dream of becoming professional footballers, but there is a difference in mentality between having that distant dream and having the clear determination that it will be that and nothing else. Which is not always enough, of course. Still, it’s an essential element, especially since the competition is, logically, very tough.

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Nuno Mendes already had a certain potential; not everything appeared simply because he gained more willpower. However, to make a difference and last over time, it took that spark that led him to work harder, to be more serious. That’s what allowed him to get opportunities and seize them.

Now, not everything is guaranteed for the future. There’s no room for complacency if the goal is to have a long career at the highest level that leaves a mark. Nuno Mendes knows what he has to do and seems ready to fight.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.