João Mendes (footballer, born 2005)

João Mendes de Assis Moreira (born 25 February 2005) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Barcelona Atlètic.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Mendes and the second or paternal family name is de Assis Moreira.
João Mendes
Personal information
Full name João Mendes de Assis Moreira[1]
Date of birth (2005-02-25) 25 February 2005
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-forward
Team information
Current team
 Barcelona Atlètic
Youth career
Flamengo
Vasco da Gama
Boavista-RJ
2018–2022 Cruzeiro
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Barcelona Atlètic 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 February 2023

Early and personal life

João Mendes was born in Rio de Janeiro to Brazilian footballing legend Ronaldinho and professional dancer Janaina Mendes.[2][3][4] His uncle is former footballer Assis, while his cousin, and Assis’ son, Diego Assis also pursued a career in football.

Club career

Early career

João Mendes first took an interest in football at the age of four, when he asked his mother to enroll him in a football school.[3] At the age of ten, he joined the academy of Flamengo, before playing indoor football for Vasco da Gama, followed by a short spell with Boavista-RJ.[3]

At the age of thirteen, he had a successful trial at Cruzeiro, where he hid the fact that his father was Ronaldinho from fellow trialists, as well as Cruzeiro staff.[3][5][6] A year after joining, he signed his first professional contract with the club, a six-year deal, in 2019.[7][8] Shortly after signing professional terms, he scored two goals for Cruzeiro at a youth tournament hosted in China.[9]

Barcelona

In February 2022, after almost four seasons with the club, João Mendes left Cruzeiro.[10] Having been without a club for almost a year, he went on trial with Spanish side Barcelona in January 2023.[11][12][13] He had been linked to the Catalan club, where his father used to play, since 2020.[14] He reportedly did not impress Barcelona coaches during his trial period, with club president, and long-time friend of Ronaldinho, Joan Laporta, requesting an extension to the trial for further technical analysis.[15]

On 7 February 2023, at the MD Grand Gala, Ronaldinho stated "with the arrival of my son at Barça I will be even more present," seemingly confirming João Mendes' move to Barcelona.[16] João Mendes played in a friendly match for Barcelona's under-19 team in a 3–1 win over Manchester United on 16 February 2023.[17] Following the game, Laporta stated "we want Ronaldinho's son to continue his career here. We will make him a contract [offer]. The other day we spoke with Roberto (his agent) and he has to close some things in Brazil."[17]

João Mendes officially signed for Barcelona on 2 March 2023, being assigned to the youth team.[18][19]

International career

João Mendes holds a Spanish passport, making him eligible to represent Spain, as well as his nation of birth Brazil.[20]

References
  1. João Mendes at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
  2. "Ronaldinho assume ser pai de filho com dançarina" [Ronaldinho assumes he is the father of a child with a dancer]. folhadelondrina.com.br (in Portuguese). 25 August 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. "Filho de Ronaldinho Gaúcho, João Mendes estreia série sobre sua vida e o início no futebol" [Son of Ronaldinho Gaúcho, João Mendes debuts series about his life and his beginnings in football]. extra.globo.com (in Portuguese). 16 July 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  4. "El espectacular cambio físico del hijo de Ronaldhino" [The spectacular physical change of Ronaldhino's son]. informacion.es (in Spanish). 3 March 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  5. "Filho de Ronaldinho Gaúcho é aprovado em teste no Cruzeiro" [Ronaldinho Gaúcho's son passes test at Cruzeiro]. placar.abril.com.br (in Portuguese). 16 August 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  6. "Ronaldinho's son hid identity during trial at Cruzeiro". en.as.com. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. Cañas, Alejandro (6 April 2019). "Ronaldinho's son signs first professional contract". en.as.com. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. "Ronaldinho's son signs professional contract with Cruzeiro". espn.com. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. "Filhos de Ronaldinho Gaúcho e Adriano são campeões nas categorias de base" [Sons of Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Adriano are champions in the base categories]. esportefera.com.br (in Portuguese). 26 April 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  10. "Cruzeiro não renova com filho de Ronaldinho Gaúcho; Guerreiro também sai" [Cruzeiro does not renew with Ronaldinho Gaúcho's son; Guerreiro also leaves]. mg.superesportes.com.br (in Portuguese). 26 February 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  11. "El hijo de Ronaldinho, al juvenil del Barça" [Ronaldinho's son, to the youth of Barça]. mundodeportivo.com (in Spanish). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  12. Clark, Gill (12 January 2023). "Ronaldinho's son on trial at Barcelona after terminating Cruzeiro contract". goal.com. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  13. "'Zoon (17) van Ronaldinho op proef bij FC Barcelona'" ['Son (17) of Ronaldinho on trial at FC Barcelona']. sportniewus.nl (in Dutch). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  14. Saenz, Mauricio (21 December 2020). "Ronaldinho's son, Joao Mendes, is reportedly on FC Barcelona's shortlist to replace Messi after his departure to Paris". elfutbolero.us. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  15. Ricci, Filippo Maria (18 January 2023). "Ronaldinho junior in prova al Barcellona: non ha convinto, e allora il presidente..." [Ronaldinho junior on trial at Barcelona: he didn't convince, so the president...]. gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  16. "Ronaldinho confirma que el Barça ficha a su hijo" [Ronaldinho confirms that Barça signs his son]. mundodeportivo.com (in Spanish). 7 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  17. Brown, Dan (17 February 2023). "Ronaldinho's son makes Barcelona youth team debut against Manchester United". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  18. Labarga, Nacho (2 March 2023). "Ronaldinho's son has officially signed for Barcelona". marca.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  19. "Ronaldinho's teenage son signs for Barcelona" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  20. Jiménez, Juan (7 February 2023). "Ronaldinho's son to sign for Barcelona". en.as.com. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
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