Ryan Mendes

Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça burst onto the scene from Mindelo, Cape Verde, on January 8, 1990. Now 36 years old, this winger has built a formidable reputation across Europe and the Middle East. His journey took him through the French leagues with Le Havre and Lille before he found success in the UAE Pro League with Sharjah and Al-Nasr. Shorter stints saw him playing for Nottingham Forest in England and several Turkish clubs including Kayserispor, Fatih Karagümrük, Kocaelispor, and Iğdır. Currently, he anchors the attack for RS Berkane in Morocco's Botola Pro. On the international stage, Mendes stands as the heartbeat of his country. He earned his first senior cap for Cape Verde back in 2010 and has since reached a historic milestone of 100 appearances. That number makes him the team's record holder for most games played and their all-time leading goalscorer. His contributions helped guide the national squad to four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2013, 2015, 2021, and 2023. The career arc continued to climb when he was part of the squad that qualified for the nation's debut FIFA World Cup in 2026.[edit]