Background and career
Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça (Portuguese: [ʀi.ˈɐ̃ i.ˈzak ˈmẽ.dɨʒ dɐ ˈɡɾa.sɐ]; born 8 January 1990) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Moroccan Botola Pro side RS Berkane and the Cape Verde national team.
He spent most of his club career in France with Le Havre and Lille, and in the UAE Pro League with Sharjah and Al-Nasr. He also had brief spells in England's Championship with Nottingham Forest, and the Turkish Süper Lig with Kayserispor, Fatih Karagümrük, Kocaelispor and Iğdır.
Mendes made his senior international debut for Cape Verde in 2010. He has since earned 100 caps, and is currently both the team's record appearance holder and all-time top goalscorer. He represented the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023, and at their debut FIFA World Cup in 2026.
