Ryan Mendes: The once Le Havre wonderkid finding his feet in the UAE

Once scouted by Leicester City and now playing for UAE side Al-Nasr, Ryan Mendes has led an interesting career.

The winger came through the famed Le Havre academy, spending three years with the French side, scoring 20 goals in 85 games for the club.

Teammates at the club with Riyad Mahrez, Mendes’ career has taken a different turn to the Algerian winger on the cusp of his third Premier League title.

Alongside Mahrez, Benjamin Mendy and Paul Pogba were also emerging through the youth ranks in a golden generation for the club.

After Eden Hazard’s move to Chelsea in 2012, Mendes was snapped up by Lille to play in their Champions League campaign under manager Rudi Garcia.

Sharing the dressing room with the likes of Dimitri Payet, Salomon Kalou and Divock Origi, Mendes would’ve had high hopes of contributing in a talented Lille side. Unfortunately for the Cape Verde international, he would miss the majority of the first season after requiring surgery on an injury to his right ankle.

The injury proved tough to recover from but Mendes would be undeterred and told the club that he was not going to be forced into retirement.

He would eventually leave the club after his opportunities became limited and agreed a move to Championship side Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan where he went on to make 32 appearances, scoring only two before leaving at the end of the season.

After his loan move, he spent two seasons in the Turkish Super Lig with Kayserispor before moving to the UAE to join former champions Sharjah in 2019.

Joining international teammates Garry Rodrigues, Heldon, Djaniny and Gege in the league, the 31-year-old would enjoy success with the King’s. Totally four goals, nine assists, a Super Cup and a first UAE Championship for the club in 23 years, Mendes’ spell at Sharjah was undoubtedly the most successful of his career up to that point.

The winger left the former champions but stayed in the UAE to join Al Nasr this season and now looks to be back to back to his best.

Ryan Mendes scored in their recent fixture in the President’s Cup semi-final, as the Blues booked their spot in the final for the second time in a row and the third in their history after beating Ittihad Kalba 7-6 on penalties.

He has scored six goals and assisted nine this campaign, with his side sitting in fourth just seven points from Al Jazira at the top of the league as eight games remain.

Mendes has also enjoyed a successful international career and featured heavily as Cape Verde reached the quater finals of the African Cup of Nations in 2013, the best result in the history for the national team.

The former Lille man now has his sights on the 2022 World Cup for the nation as they look to qualify for the first time ever.