Cape Verde’s greatest footballer has had a long, globe-trotting career.
This article covers Ryan Mendes’ net worth, including his salary history, club contracts, career earnings, and everything you need to know about his life and finances.
Ryan Mendes’ Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1990 |
| Age | 36 |
| Nationality | Cape Verdean |
| Place of Birth | Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde |
| Height / Weight | 1.78 m / 75 kg |
| Position | Left Winger / Right Winger |
| Current Club | Iğdır F.K. (Turkey, TFF First League) |
| Turned Professional | 2008 (Le Havre AC) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1.5 million |
| Career Earnings (Estimated) | ~$814,000+ tracked gross (Capology) |
| International Caps | 96 caps, 22 goals (Cape Verde) |
Early Life & Career
Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça was born on January 8, 1990, in Mindelo, the vibrant port city on São Vicente island in Cape Verde.
Growing up, he played his early youth football for Batuque FC in his hometown before European football came calling.
In 2007, a scout spotted the young winger during an international youth tournament in Gonfreville-l’Orcher, near the French city of Le Havre.
That discovery changed the course of his life. A year later, in 2008, he joined Le Havre AC — at the time a Ligue 1 club.
His debut at the top level came on May 13, 2009, as a substitute against AS Saint-Étienne. Le Havre soon dropped to Ligue 2, but Mendes grew into a key player in the second tier.
In the 2011–12 season, he finished joint third in the division’s scoring charts with 13 goals in 34 league appearances.
Around this time, Leicester City scout Steve Walsh actually monitored Mendes, but chose his Le Havre teammate Riyad Mahrez instead — a footnote that says a lot about the quality Mendes showed at that stage.
Professional Career
Mendes made the move to France’s top flight in September 2012, joining LOSC Lille for a reported €3 million fee — funded in part by Lille’s windfall from selling Eden Hazard to Chelsea.
His monthly salary jumped from €7,000 to €120,000 at Lille, reflecting his jump in profile. He went on to make 74 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring nine goals, before earning a season-long loan move to Nottingham Forest in England’s Championship in September 2015.
After returning briefly to Lille, he signed for Turkish club Kayserispor in January 2017.
In the summer of 2018, he moved to the UAE Pro League, first joining Sharjah FC on a three-year deal, where he won the UAE Pro League title in his very first season.
He then moved across the UAE to Al-Nasr SC in Dubai in July 2020, spending three productive seasons there. Mendes returned to Turkey in August 2023, signing a two-year deal with Fatih Karagümrük.
After one season, he joined Kocaelispor for the 2024–25 campaign and helped them win the TFF First League — earning promotion to the Süper Lig. He currently plays for Iğdır F.K. in Turkey’s second division, with a contract running until June 30, 2026.
On the international stage, Mendes stands alone as Cape Verde’s all-time record cap holder and top goalscorer. He has represented his nation at four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (2013, 2015, 2021, and 2023).
At the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, he captained Cape Verde, scored twice, and helped guide the team to the quarter-finals.
Ryan Mendes’ Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Ryan Mendes’ has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
He built this wealth through over 17 years of professional football contracts across France, England, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, combined with his long tenure as a salaried international captain for Cape Verde.
Contract
Mendes currently holds a contract with Turkish second-division side Iğdır F.K., expiring on June 30, 2026.
Before that, he signed with Kocaelispor in July 2024 as a free agent following his exit from Fatih Karagümrük, where his deal was also uncompensated on arrival.
His most valuable contract came at Lille, where he earned a reported €120,000 per month — one of the highest salaries of his career.
As tracked by Transfermarkt, his current market value sits at approximately €200,000, reflecting his age and second-division status.
Salary
According to Capology, Ryan Mendes has earned approximately $814,431 gross in tracked career salary — though this figure covers only the later portion of his career and does not include his lucrative Lille contract, his UAE years, or any performance bonuses.
At his peak with Lille, his monthly gross salary of €120,000 would translate to roughly €1.44 million per year.
In the UAE with Sharjah and Al-Nasr, Gulf-based football clubs typically pay tax-free salaries to senior foreign players, meaning his take-home earnings would have been significantly higher than equivalent European wages.
His current salary at Iğdır F.K. is not officially disclosed but aligns with Turkey’s TFF First League pay scales, which average between €50,000 and €150,000 per year for experienced foreign players.
Career Earnings By Year
| Period | Club | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2008–2012 | Le Havre AC | €7,000–€84,000/yr (rising) |
| 2012–2017 | LOSC Lille | ~€1,440,000/yr (peak) |
| 2015–2016 | Nottingham Forest (loan) | Undisclosed / covered by Lille |
| 2017–2018 | Kayserispor | Estimated €200,000–€400,000/yr |
| 2018–2020 | Sharjah FC | Estimated €400,000–€600,000/yr (tax-free) |
| 2020–2023 | Al-Nasr SC (Dubai) | Estimated €300,000–€500,000/yr (tax-free) |
| 2023–2024 | Fatih Karagümrük | Estimated €200,000–€300,000/yr |
| 2024–2025 | Kocaelispor | Estimated €150,000–€250,000/yr |
| 2025–2026 | Iğdır F.K. | Estimated €80,000–€150,000/yr |
Career Statistics
| Club | Seasons | League Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Havre AC | 2008–2013 | 84 | 19 | — |
| LOSC Lille | 2012–2017 | 54 | 7 | — |
| Nottingham Forest (loan) | 2015–2016 | 32 | 2 | — |
| Kayserispor | 2016–2018 | 39 | 5 | — |
| Sharjah FC | 2018–2020 | 44 | 20 | — |
| Al-Nasr SC | 2020–2023 | 68 | 15 | — |
| Fatih Karagümrük | 2023–2024 | 23 | 4 | — |
| Kocaelispor | 2024–2026 | 39 | 12 | — |
| Iğdır F.K. | 2025–2026 | 29 | 5 | — |
| Career Total | 2008–2026 | 410 | 90 | — |
International Career (Cape Verde)
| Years | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2026 | 96 | 22 |
FAQs
What is Ryan Mendes’ net worth?
Ryan Mendes has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. He earned this through long-running professional contracts in France, Turkey, and the UAE over a 17-year career.
Which club does Ryan Mendes play?
He plays for Iğdır F.K. in Turkey’s TFF First League. His contract runs until June 30, 2026, according to his profile on FotMob.
How many caps does Ryan Mendes have for Cape Verde?
Ryan Mendes has earned 96 international caps and scored 22 goals for Cape Verde, making him the nation’s all-time record appearance maker and top goalscorer.
What trophies has Ryan Mendes won?
He won the UAE Pro League title with Sharjah FC in the 2018–19 season and won the TFF First League with Kocaelispor in 2024–25, earning promotion to the Turkish Süper Lig.
Where was Ryan Mendes born?
Ryan Mendes was born in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde, on January 8, 1990. He began his youth career at Batuque FC before moving to Le Havre in France in 2008.
