*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:34, 27 February 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:43, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
Born in Yeumbeul, Dakar Region,[3] to a family of Bissau-Guinean and Gambian descent,[4][5] Mendes Gomes and his family moved to Spain when he was a child,[6] after his father Carlos sought work in construction.[7] The family moved to Lanzarote.[6] He is the cousin of the Gambian footballer Jacob Mendy.[8] He was naturalized as a Spanish citizen.[5]
Club career
Early career
After spending 10 years at UD Lanzarote,[5] Mendes Gomes moved on his own to Madrid aged 15, where he began playing for Getafe.[6] A season later he signed for Atlético Madrid's youth teams.[3][6][9]
His family then moved to England, after his father thought it was better for the children's education,[6] with the family relocating to Salford.[7] Mendes Gomes could not speak any English and did not play football for a year.[6] He then began playing for West Didsbury & Chorlton, scoring seven league goals in 50 games in all competitions during his two-season spell.[10]
Morecambe
In May 2018, Mendes Gomes signed for Morecambe alongside Lamin Jagne, after being scouted whilst studying at The Manchester College and playing for their football academy.[11] He made his professional debut on 14 August 2018, replacing Rhys Oates in a 3–1 EFL Cup away loss against Preston North End.[12] He made 19 appearances for the club across the 2018–19 season, with 15 appearances coming in League Two.[12] A one-year contract option was exercised by Morecambe at the end of the 2018–19 season.[13]
Mendes Gomes scored his first goal for Morecambe in a 2–1 defeat at home to Oldham Athletic on 26 December 2019.[14][15] He was offered a new contract at the end of the 2019–20 season.[16]
In April 2021 he was linked with a transfer away from the club following a series of strong performances, which attracted praise from Morecambe manager Derek Adams.[17] In May 2021 he was voted the Supporters' Player Of The Season.[18] On 31 May 2021, he scored a 107th-minute penalty in the League Two play-off final, securing a 1–0 win against Newport County and Morecambe's first ever promotion to the third tier of English football.[19] In June 2021 the club activated an extension to his contract.[20] He was the club's top scorer in the 2020–21 season, with 15 goals.[21]
Mendes Gomes was born in Senegal and is of Bissau-Guinean and Gambian descent, and raised in Spain. On 3 November 2023, he was called up to the Guinea-Bissau national football team.[27] He debuted with Guinea-Bissau in a 1–0 win over Djibouti on 20 November 2023.[28]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 27 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^ abc"ENTRETIEN EXCLUSIF AVEC CARLOS MENDES GOMES : " Je suis convaincu que je finirai par représenter le Sénégal "". wiwsport (in French). 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023. It's just a common description around me because of my (Spanish) nationality. I spent most of my years in Spain and it is the country where I grew up. For those who don't know me, I'm a Senegalese footballer and I'm 24 years old. I have not yet had any contact with the Senegalese federation. But I received proposals to represent Guinea Bissau and Gambia for which I am eligible. I did not answer because I am also eligible to represent Senegal. Would I respond favorably to the call of the selection of Senegal? Absolutely ! It would be a dream come true to wear the Senegalese jersey and be able to represent the Teranga lions. I haven't made a decision yet, but I would like to wait because I am convinced that I will end up representing Senegal.
