Brais Méndez: Real Sociedad’s Livewire in Midfield
The Spanish Men’s National Team has been blessed with the best footballing talent in the middle of the park in years gone by. The performances of Rodri and Fabian Ruiz galvanized La Furia Roja to a fourth European Championship crown earlier in July. Such is their wealth of midfield talent that Real Sociedad midfielder, Martín Zubimendi, who had hardly featured in the tournament, came on in the final for the injured Rodri to great effect.
Real Sociedad also have a plethora of talented midfielders, and another one looking to make his mark with the national team is Brais Méndez. After plying his trade in the UEFA Champions League last season, Méndez looks set to play a pivotal role for La Real as the Basque side prepare for a season in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Europa League.
Name: Brais Méndez Portela
Date of Birth: January 7, 1997
Place of Birth: Mos, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Midfielder
Current Club: Real Sociedad (as of 2024)
Jersey Number: 23
Brais Méndez was born in the small town of Mos, located in the Galician region of Spain. From a young age, he demonstrated a natural talent for football, turning out for regional club Santa Marina. A move to join the youth academy of RC Celta de Vigo, one of the biggest clubs in Galicia, signaled the start of his rise. His progression through the youth ranks was swift, as he combined a mixture of vision and technical precision to stand out amongst his then teammates.
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He made his professional debut for Celta Vigo on September 21, 2017, in a La Liga match against Getafe. In the seasons that followed, he established himself as a key player for Celta, known for his versatility, vision, and technical skills. His ability to play both as an attacking midfielder and a wide midfielder made him a valuable asset for the team.
During his time at Celta, Méndez also became known for his knack for scoring crucial goals. He played a pivotal role in helping the team maintain its La Liga status at the time, contributing with crucial goals and assists along the way. Méndez’s form in Galicia did not go unnoticed and in the summer of 2022, he joined Real Sociedad. This transfer signaled a step up in his career, which allowed him to compete at a higher level and participate in European competitions.
He wasted no time impressing his new employers, scoring the winner on his European debut in a 1-0 away win over Manchester United. His time at Real Sociedad has been marked by growth and development. Under the tutelage of the ambitious Imanol Alguacil, Méndez has further honed his skills, contributing to the team’s successes on both the domestic and European stage.
Méndez passed the ball roughly 41.97 times per game with a pass completion rate of 80.94%. He also played 1.53 key passes per game which led to significant scoring chances. Overall, Méndez’s xA (Expected Assists) output was 0.26 per 90 minutes. This stat put him in the 92nd percentile of players in La Liga. His crossing stats, whenever he played wide, were also impressive, with a successful cross rate of 0.97 per game.
The next logical step for the 27-year-old would be more international recognition. He already has four caps to his name and made an impression on his international debut, scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2018.
Méndez has not featured for La Furia Roja since his last cap in 2021, missing out on their triumph at Euros, but the mercurial midfielder from Galicia will be looking to force himself into Luis de la Fuente’s plans for the World Cup in 2026 with another stellar season in La Liga.
By: Edward Okaro / @KingArinze
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce / Getty Images