Brais Méndez Portela (born 7 January 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew.
He took part in 275 La Liga games over nine seasons for Celta and Real Sociedad, making 166 competitive appearances for both clubs (22 and 33 goals scored, respectively) and winning the 2025–26 Copa del Rey with the latter. In July 2026, he signed with the Columbus Crew.
Méndez made his full debut for Spain in 2018.
Club career 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 League, opening an eventual 1–1 home draw against Inter Milan on 20 September 2023 in the group phase.
Midway through the 2025–26 campaign, following the appointment of new head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, Méndez saw his minutes drastically reduced. He did score six times in all competitions.
Columbus Crew On 2 July 2026, Méndez was announced as a new signing for the Columbus Crew, signing a three-year deal. He made his debut on 1 August, scoring through a free kick in a 2–2 draw away to Inter Miami.
International career 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.
Style of play A highly technical player, Méndez has been praised for his passing range, vision and work-rate.
Personal life 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.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCelta B2014–15Segunda División B30———302015–1670———702016–17366——203862017–18102——40142Total568000060628Celta2017–18La Liga20140——2412018–1931610——3262019–2031031——3412020–2134920——3692021–2237431——405Total15320132000016622Real Sociedad2022–23La Liga3485182—47112023–243255073—4482024–2527353122—4482025–2629620——316Total122221742770016633Columbus Crew2026Major League Soccer10311—42156Career total3415331727710240969
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSpain201811202130Total41
Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Méndez goal. + List of international goals scored by Brais Méndez No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 18 November 2018 Estadio Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain 1–0 1–0 Friendly
Honours Real Sociedad Copa del Rey: 2025–26
References
External links