Thiago Mendes cements key role under Diniz at Vasco and wins over fans | OneFootball

Thiago Mendes has emerged as a pillar for Fernando Diniz’s Vasco, starring in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Botafogo at São Januário in the final round of the Campeonato Carioca group stage. The midfielder controlled proceedings from the centre.

According to Globo.com, he was voted among the best performers alongside Brenner and Coutinho after that derby, and he already has six starts this season.

It has not always been so. Announced in July 2025 as Admar Lopes’s first signing, the 33-year-old initially struggled for fitness after limited minutes in Qatar with Al-Rayyan and two months without playing, undergoing reconditioning.

The tide turned on 28 November 2025, when Vasco beat Internacional 5-1 in the 37th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro at a rain-soaked São Januário. Introduced after the interval, he found spaces and helped create the third goal, producing a trivela pass to Andrés Gómez, who set up Rayan.

Since then, the No 23 has not relinquished his starting place, becoming integral to Diniz’s system, particularly late in the Copa do Brasil. Alongside Cauan Barros, he dictated the tempo in the semi-finals against Fluminense and the finals against Corinthians. He was among those spared by supporters after the defeat to Corinthians at the Maracanã.

Source: Globo.com