Pedro Mendes (footballer, born 1999)

Pedro Manuel Lobo Peixoto Mineiro Mendes (born 1 August 1999) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Italian club Modena.

Sporting CP
Born in Guimarães, Mendes started his youth career with local clubs Vitória S.C. and Moreirense F.C. before joining Sporting CP's academy at the age of 18. On 19 September 2019, after having scored seven goals in six games for the under-23 side to start the new season and before he had made his debut with the first team in the Primeira Liga due to registration problems, he appeared with the latter in a group stage match in the UEFA Europa League against PSV Eindhoven, and found the net immediately after having come as an 81st-minute substitute for fellow youth graduate Miguel Luís, albeit in a 3–2 away defeat; in the process, he became Sporting's first player to achieve the feat on his debut in European competition.

Mendes finally made his debut in the Portuguese top division on 11 January 2020, playing 14 minutes in the 3–1 away victory over Vitória de Setúbal. On 16 September, he joined Spanish Segunda División side UD Almería on a season-long loan. The following 1 February, however, he signed with C.D. Nacional also on loan. In his second appearance for the latter, as a second-half substitute against S.C. Farense, he scored twice (but one in his own net) in a 2–3 home loss.

On 16 July 2021, Mendes moved to Liga Portugal 2 club Rio Ave F.C. on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy. He scored a squad-best ten goals, as the champions returned to the top flight after one year out.

Ascoli
On 29 August 2022, Mendes signed a three-year contract with Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC in the Italian Serie B. He netted a team-best 11 times in his second season, in a final relegation; he also missed the final two months due to a tendon injury.

International career
Mendes won his first cap for Portugal at under-21 level on 11 October 2019, in a 4–2 away loss against the Netherlands in the 2021 UEFA European Championship qualifiers where he replaced AC Milan's Rafael Leão.

Honours
Rio Ave
 * Liga Portugal 2: 2021–22