Brais Méndez

Youth career

Born in Mos, Pontevedra, Galicia, Méndez played futsal with Sárdoma aged 5, moving to association football with Santa Mariña. He joined Villarreal's youth setup in 2010, but left two years later due to homesickness.

Celta

Méndez completed his development at Celta de Vigo. He made his senior debut with their reserves on 7 September 2014, starting in a 1–0 Segunda División B away win against Real Murcia. Méndez scored his first senior goal on 4 September 2016, netting his team's second in a 3–1 victory at Palencia. The following 21 August, after spending the whole preseason with the main squad, he renewed his contract until 2021. On 21 September 2017, Méndez made his professional – and La Liga – debut, starting in the 1–1 home draw against Getafe. He scored his first goal in the competition on 31 March 2018, equalising a 1–1 away draw with Athletic Bilbao. On 30 July 2020, Méndez extended his contract until 2024. The ensuing season was his most prolific with nine goals, including both in a win over Alavés at the Balaídos Stadium on 20 December.

Real Sociedad

On 6 July 2022, Real Sociedad reached an agreement with Celta for the transfer of Méndez, with the player signing a contract until 2028. On his European debut on 8 September, he scored the only goal to help defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, through a penalty. Méndez also scored in his maiden appearance in the UEFA Champions…

After playing for Spain at under-17, under-18 and under-21 levels, Méndez was first called by the full side on 8 November 2018 for matches against Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He made his debut in the latter fixture, coming on as a 59th-minute substitute for Suso in the 1–0 friendly win in Las Palmas and scoring the only goal.

A highly technical player, Méndez has been praised for his passing range, vision and work-rate.

Méndez's father, Modesto (known as Pupi), was also a footballer. A forward, he appeared in one Segunda División match with Deportivo de La Coruña.