Nuno Mendes Claims Champions League Record
Nuno Mendes has claimed the Champions League record for youngest Portuguese player to reach 50 appearances. On Tuesday, **Paris Saint-Germain** secured a 5-4 win over **Bayern Munich**, with Mendes featuring for the French side and playing 84 minutes.
Mendes was named in the starting lineup and replaced by **Lucas Hernandez**. His appearance allowed him to reach the historic milestone, overtaking **Cristiano Ronaldo**.
The Portuguese left-back hit the mark at **23 years and 313 days**, comfortably surpassing Ronaldo's record. Ronaldo had reached that total during the 2008-09 season with **Manchester United** at **24 years and 83 days**.
Mendes' numbers come exclusively from his time with **Paris Saint-Germain**. Before joining the French side, he spent three seasons with **Sporting CP**, where he did not make a Champions League appearance.
Since 2021, Mendes has become a key player for PSG, reflected in his seven goals and four assists in 50 matches in European competition. He is now just 14 matches away from breaking into the top 10 Portuguese players with the most appearances in Champions League history.
The current top 10 includes **Cristiano Ronaldo** with 183 appearances, **Pepe** with 120, and **Luis Figo** with 103. Mendes is approaching numbers that other icons took years to build, making his achievement even more impressive.
Mendes is still under 24 and has already made a significant impact in the Champions League. His record is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.
The ranking only includes players who have featured in the competition since it adopted the UEFA Champions League format in the **1991-92** season. Other Portuguese players, such as **Eusebio**, also made their mark in the European Cup before the format change.
Mendes will look to continue his success in the Champions League and potentially break into the top 10. With his current form and dedication, he has a strong chance of achieving this goal.
The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious tournaments in football, and Mendes' record is a significant achievement. He will look to build on this success and continue to make a name for himself in the football world.
Mendes' record has sparked interest in the football community, with many praising his achievement. He has shown that he is a talented and dedicated player, and his future in the sport looks bright.
The Portuguese left-back has become a key player for **Paris Saint-Germain**, and his record is a reflection of his hard work and dedication. He will look to continue his success in the Champions League and potentially break into the top 10.