Claudio Mendes

Cláudio Mendes was born in Arrecife de Lanzarote and holds dual citizenship of Spain and Guinea-Bissau. He came through the youth ranks at S.C.R. D. Torrelavega and C.D. Orientación Marítima before joining UD Las Palmas' academy in 2019. He made his senior debut for the Canary Islands club on 13 June 2020, becoming the third-youngest player born on Lanzarote to appear for Las Palmas, and opened his goalscoring account that September.

The next stretch of his career ran through loan spells in the Primera División RFEF. At CF Rayo Majadahonda he scored three goals in twelve appearances, and a longer loan at UD Logroñés brought four goals in 33 games across the 2022–23 season. A free move to UE Cornellà followed in July 2023, where he had his most productive campaign yet, scoring seven times in 29 appearances.

That form earned him a move abroad: on 3 July 2024 he signed for Casa Pia AC in the Primeira Liga on a free transfer. In September 2026 he was loaned out again, this time to F.C. Penafiel in Liga Portugal 2 for the remainder of the season.

At international level, Mendes represented Guinea-Bissau at Under-17 level in 2018, earning one cap and scoring once. He has since received call-ups for senior friendlies with Guinea-Bissau, though he is yet to make his debut for the full national team.