Jhegson Méndez Explained

Jhegson Méndez
Fullname:Jhegson Sebastián Méndez Carabalí[1]
Birth Date:1997 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Mira, Ecuador
Height:1.75 m[2]
Currentclub:São Paulo
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2010–2011
Youthclubs1:Norte América
Youthyears2:2011–2015
Youthclubs2:Independiente del Valle
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Independiente del Valle
Caps1:81
Goals1:4
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Cultural Leonesa (loan)
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2022
Clubs3:Orlando City
Caps3:72
Goals3:1
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Los Angeles FC
Caps4:9
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:São Paulo
Caps5:7
Goals5:0
Years6:2024
Clubs6:Elche (loan)
Caps6:4
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Ecuador U17
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2015–2017
Nationalteam2:Ecuador U20
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–
Nationalteam3:Ecuador
Nationalcaps3:36
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:8 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:28 March 2023

Jhegson Sebastián Méndez Carabalí (born 26 April 1997) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club São Paulo, and the Ecuador national team.[3]

Club career

Independiente del Valle

Méndez joined the Independiente del Valle academy in 2011. By 2014 he had been promoted to the club's B team and made his first-team debut on 7 March 2015 in a victory over L.D.U. Loja in the Serie A Primera Etapa. After two substitute appearances, Méndez was loaned to Cultural Leonesa in Spain, making one substitute appearance for the club on 29 November 2015. Upon his return to the club, Méndez had to wait until gameweek 15 of the 2016 season to play his next game, appearing as a substitute in a defeat to Fuerza Amarilla on 13 May 2016. He followed that up by playing the full 90 minutes in six of the final ten games of the Serie A Primera Etapa and a further 12 appearances in the Segunda Etapa as he cemented himself as a first-team regular.

Orlando City

On 28 December 2018, Méndez signed to Major League Soccer team Orlando City.[4] He made his debut in the season opener at home to New York City FC on 2 March 2019. In July 2019, Méndez was part of the Orlando City team alongside Nani and Chris Mueller that won the 2019 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, beating teams from the MLS All-Stars and Atlético Madrid to win the $25,000 prize for charity.[5]

On 7 November 2021, Méndez scored his first goal for the club on his 65th appearance. The goal, a spectacular knuckling 20-yard strike, was the opener in an eventual 2–0 win away at CF Montréal. It was the final match of the regular season in which Orlando entered knowing a draw would guarantee qualification to the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.[6]

Los Angeles FC

On 19 July 2022, Méndez was acquired by Los Angeles FC via trade in exchange for $300,000 of General Allocation Money (GAM). Orlando could receive an additional $450,000 in GAM if certain contract conditions are met and also retained an undisclosed percentage of any future transfer fee.[7]

With LAFC, he won both the Supporters' Shield, after a 3-0 win over Austin FC,[8] and the MLS Cup Final, following a penalty shoot-out win over Philadelphia Union.[9] At the end of the 2022 season, he was released by the club.[10]

São Paulo

On 9 January 2023, Méndez joined Brazilian club São Paulo on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract.[11] Rarely used in his first season, he was loaned to Spanish Segunda División side Elche on 1 February 2024.[12]

International career

Méndez was a member of Ecuador’s 2017 South American U-20 Championship squad which reached the final of the tournament.[13]

In October 2018, Méndez was called up to the senior Ecuador national team by manager Hernán Darío Gómez for the first time.[14] He made his debut on 11 September 2018, playing 73 minutes in a 2–0 friendly victory over Guatemala at Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois.[15] [16] In May 2019, he was called into the squad for the 2019 Copa América, his first senior international tournament.[17] After sitting out the first group game, Méndez started against Chile and drew a foul from goalkeeper Gabriel Arias to win a penalty, Ecuador's only goal of a 2–1 defeat.[18] He started the following game, a 1–1 draw with Japan. Ecuador were eliminated after finishing bottom of Group C with one point.

In June 2021, Mendez was named to the final roster for the 2021 Copa América.[19]

Personal life

His uncle is former professional footballer and fellow Ecuadorean international player Édison Méndez.[20]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalPlayoffsOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsAppsGoalsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Independiente del Valle2015Serie A20000020
20161900000190
20172010000201
20184020020422
Total81300200000833
Cultural Leonesa (loan)2015–16Segunda División B100010
Orlando City2019MLS23020250
20201900040230
20211710010181
202213040170
Total72160001040831
Career total1544602010401674

International

Ecuador
YearAppsGoals
201850
2019100
202010
2021100
202280
202320
Total360

Honours

Los Angeles FC

2022

2022

São Paulo

2023

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Ecuador (ECU) . . 10 . 15 November 2022 . 15 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Sebas Méndez . 20 August 2022 . Los Angeles FC.
  3. Web site: Ecuador – J. Méndez – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway. uk.soccerway.com.
  4. Web site: Orlando City SC Signs Ecuadorian Midfielder Jhegson Sebastián Méndez | Orlando City Soccer Club.
  5. Web site: Nani gives Orlando City the win at the MLS Skills Challenge . AS.com . en . 31 July 2019.
  6. Web site: Man of the Match Spotlight: Sebas Mendez . www.orlandocitysc.com.
  7. Web site: LAFC Acquires Midfielder Sebastian Méndez . LAFC.
  8. News: October 30, 2022 . LAFC advances to MLS Cup final with 3-0 win over Austin FC . . Associated Press . November 5, 2022.
  9. News: Stejskal . Sam . November 5, 2022 . LAFC finds Hollywood ending, beats Philadelphia on penalty kicks for first MLS Cup title . The Athletic . subscription . November 5, 2022.
  10. Web site: November 15, 2022 . LAFC Announces Roster Moves For 2023 Season . November 22, 2022 . Los Angeles FC.
  11. Web site: 2023-01-09 . São Paulo contrata equatoriano Méndez . 2023-01-09 . São Paulo FC . pt-BR.
  12. Web site: OFICIAL Jhegson Méndez. OFFICIAL Jhegson Méndez. Elche CF. es. 1 February 2024. 2 February 2024.
  13. Web site: Selección Sub-20 de Ecuador definida para Sudamericano. 4 January 2017. eluniverso.com.
  14. Web site: Carlos Cuero sufre lesión muscular. EL. TIEMPO. 6 October 2018.
  15. Web site: Ecuador vs. Guatemala – Football Match Summary – September 11, 2018 – ESPN . ESPN.com . en.
  16. Web site: PERU21 . NOTICIAS . Deportes: Ecuador ganó 2–0 a Guatemala por amistoso internacional en Chicago NOTICIAS PERU21 PERÚ . Peru21 . es . 12 September 2018.
  17. Web site: LOS 23 CONVOCADOS DE ECUADOR PARA COPA AMÉRICA DE BRASIL 2019. FEF. 20 May 2019. es.
  18. Web site: Ecuador vs. Chile – Football Match Report – June 21, 2019 – ESPN . ESPN.com . en.
  19. Web site: Copa America 2021: Ecuador's squad for the competition . Bolavip US. 10 June 2021 .
  20. Web site: World Cup 2022: complete guide to all 831 players. Everything you need to know (and more) about every squad member in Qatar. The Guardian.