María Méndez Fernández is a Spanish professional footballer born on 10 April 2001 in Oviedo, Asturias.
She plays as a centre-back for Liga F club Real Madrid and the Spain women’s national team.
She is known for her defensive solidity, aerial ability, leadership qualities, and capacity to contribute goals from set pieces, particularly headers.
She earned the nickname “Pecas” during her early career at Real Oviedo.
Méndez rose through the ranks of Spanish women’s football and has become a regular presence in both domestic and international competitions.
Siblings
María is the younger sister of Miguel Méndez.
Miguel, born around 1996, is a former player in Real Oviedo’s youth teams who later transitioned into coaching.
He previously served as coach of Real Oviedo Femenino and has worked as an assistant coach, including contributing to an ascent to Primera Federación with another club.
María has often credited watching her brother play as the spark that led her to take up the sport as a young child.
Career
Méndez began her youth career with Oviedo Moderno, progressing to the B team around 2015–2016. She made her senior debut for Oviedo’s first team as a teenager and featured for the club from 2016 to 2019.
She initially played more as a midfielder before settling into a defensive role.
Also Read: Cata Coll Siblings: Get to Know Auba Coll Lluch
In 2019, she moved to Deportivo de La Coruña, also known as Deportivo Abanca, where she adapted well to the top flight and contributed goals.
The following year, she joined Levante UD, remaining there from 2020 to 2024.
At Levante, she became a key starter and was named a captain while still young. She helped the side reach UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification stages on multiple occasions.
In July 2024, she signed for Real Madrid, where she established herself in the starting lineup as a reliable centre-back.
With Real Madrid, she has competed in Liga F and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
On the international stage, Méndez represented Spain at youth levels, including the under-17, under-19, and under-23 teams.
She made her senior debut for Spain in November 2022 in a friendly against Argentina. She has since earned regular call-ups, scoring goals in competitive fixtures such as the Nations League.
She was included in the squad for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
Accolades
At youth level with Spain, Méndez won the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2018 in Uruguay. She also won the UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship in 2018 in Lithuania.
With the senior national team, she claimed the UEFA Women’s Nations League title in the 2023–24 edition. She was also a runner-up at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
At club level, she contributed to Real Oviedo winning the Segunda División Group I title in 2017–18.
With Levante and later Real Madrid, she has helped secure high league finishes, including runners-up positions in Liga F.
She has also been part of teams that regularly participated in European competition.
Her individual recognition includes being selected as a captain at a young age.
She has also produced consistent performances that have seen her ranked among productive defensive goal scorers in Liga F seasons.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
