A surname that weighs heavily — but doesn’t hold him back

Growing up with Ronaldinho’s last name is no small challenge. The shadow of the Brazilian icon — one of the most gifted players in football history — could easily become a burden for any young talent. But Joao Mendes, the 20-year-old winger from Hull City, sees it differently:

“I am me, and he is him.”

The Brazilian, who passed through La Masia and Burnley’s academy, signed a one-year deal with the Tigers with the goal of accelerating his professional development. And since his arrival, he has insisted on separating his own identity as a player from the legacy of his father.

Growing away from the spotlight

In an interview with the BBC, Joao Mendes explained that although comparisons are inevitable, he doesn’t feel pressured by his father’s fame:

“It’s normal that people see me as his son, but it doesn’t affect me or the way I play.”

His focus is solely on his progression as a footballer. He acknowledges that adapting to Hull City has not been easy, especially on the physical side, but says he is working every day to earn a place in the first team:

“When I arrived, my physical level wasn’t where it needed to be, but I’m working on it. The coaches understand that and help me a lot.”

A path very different from Ronaldinho’s

Unlike his father — who at 20 was already dazzling at Grêmio and on the verge of becoming a global phenomenon — Joao Mendes is taking things step by step, without rushing and without letting expectations consume him. He has trained in elite academies, but has yet to make the jump to top-tier professional football.

What he does know is his immediate goal: to establish himself at Hull City and prove, through his own style, that his career won’t be defined by footballing inheritance.

At just 20 years old, Mendes continues working toward his dream, far from the constant comparisons to Ronaldinho — an unfair but inevitable weight that he has learned to turn into motivation.