Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Siara Costa
Brais Méndez is a Spanish professional footballer known for his creativity, technical ability and powerful left foot. Born Brais Méndez Portela on January 7, 1997, in Mos, Pontevedra, Galicia, he developed through Spanish football with Santa Mariña, Villarreal and Celta Vigo before establishing himself in La Liga with Celta and Real Sociedad. In July 2026, Méndez began a new stage of his career after joining Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.
Football has always been closely connected to Méndez’s family. His father, Modesto “Pupi” Méndez, was himself a footballer, while his mother, Sonia Portela, supported Brais throughout a youth career that required him to leave Galicia at an early age. Méndez has since formed a family of his own with his longtime partner, Cristina Uña, and the couple are parents to two children, Olivia and Nico.
Brais Méndez’s Girlfriend: Cristina Uña
Brais Méndez’s longtime partner is Cristina Uña. Spanish and Galician media have publicly identified her as the footballer’s partner for several years.
The couple generally maintain a low profile compared with many football personalities. They have occasionally shared important moments from their lives through social media, but they have avoided making their relationship a regular subject of media attention.
Cristina has been described in Spanish reporting as a flight attendant. Her relationship with Méndez predates the birth of their first child, and the pair were already together during his years with Real Sociedad.
Their family entered a new stage in 2024 when they announced that they were expecting their first baby.
As of now, reliable public sources continue to describe Cristina as Brais Méndez’s partner. There has not been a widely documented public announcement confirming that the couple have married, so describing her as his girlfriend or longtime partner is more accurate than presenting her as his wife.
Brais Méndez’s Children
Brais Méndez and Cristina Uña have two children: a daughter named Olivia and a son named Nico.
The couple have been relatively protective of their children’s privacy. Although both births were publicly celebrated, they have avoided placing excessive information about their young family in the media.
Olivia Méndez Uña
Olivia is Brais Méndez and Cristina Uña’s first child.
She was born on November 22, 2024. The couple had announced Cristina’s pregnancy several months earlier but remained discreet about many of the details surrounding the birth.
After Olivia arrived, Cristina shared photographs relating to both the pregnancy and the beginning of their life as parents. Brais also posted an image of himself holding his newborn daughter.
Real Sociedad and Santa Mariña, one of Brais’s childhood clubs, publicly congratulated the couple and welcomed Olivia to the family.
Becoming a father added an important new dimension to Méndez’s life while he was playing professionally in San Sebastián.
Nico Méndez Uña
Nico is Brais Méndez and Cristina Uña’s second child.
He was born in early February 2026, a little more than a year after Olivia. Real Sociedad publicly celebrated the arrival of the newborn and identified him as Nico Méndez Uña.
His birth made Olivia an older sister and expanded the Méndez-Uña family to four.
By the time Nico arrived, Brais was already an established figure at Real Sociedad and had entered a more mature stage of both his football career and personal life.
Brais Méndez’s Parents
Brais Méndez’s parents are Modesto “Pupi” Méndez and Sonia Portela.
Both were closely involved in their son’s football development from childhood. Brais showed an obsession with the ball from a very young age, and his parents supported the opportunities that eventually took him from local football in Galicia to Villarreal’s academy and later Celta Vigo.
Their importance became particularly evident when Brais moved away from home while still a young teenager. His parents made considerable efforts to visit him, and his close attachment to his family eventually contributed to his decision to return to Galicia.
Brais Méndez’s Father: Modesto “Pupi” Méndez
Brais Méndez’s father is Modesto Méndez, widely known in Galician football by the nickname “Pupi.”
Modesto was also a footballer and played as a forward. His career included time with several Galician clubs, giving Brais an immediate family connection to competitive football.
Pupi played for Celta Turista, the reserve side of Celta Vigo, and also made an appearance for Deportivo de La Coruña during the 1980s. He later represented clubs including Xuventude de Cambados during an important period in the club’s history.
His experience as a player helped him understand the opportunities that began arriving for his son.
When Villarreal became interested in Brais around the age of 13, Modesto was directly involved in discussions concerning the move. The family visited Villarreal’s facilities before deciding that Brais should enter the club’s academy.
Pupi was also involved with Santa Mariña, one of Brais’s childhood clubs, where he served as a director.
How Brais Méndez’s Father Influenced His Career
Having a former footballer as a father gave Brais someone at home who understood both the opportunities and difficulties involved in pursuing the sport professionally.
Modesto has recalled that football dominated his son’s life from an extremely young age. Brais constantly wanted a ball at his feet and used almost every free moment to play.
However, his father did not attempt to control every career decision. Brais has explained that his parents allowed him significant freedom to decide what was best for his own development.
That became particularly important during his difficult experience at Villarreal.
Brais Méndez’s Mother: Sonia Portela
Brais Méndez’s mother is Sonia Portela.
Although she has maintained a considerably lower public profile than Modesto, she has been identified by Galician media as one of the central figures in Brais’s upbringing.
Sonia and Modesto supported their son throughout his early football development and faced the challenge of allowing him to move far from home while he was still very young.
When Brais joined Villarreal at around 13, he had to live away from his parents in the club’s residence. The experience proved difficult because he was extremely attached to his family.
His parents traveled to see him whenever possible, but Brais struggled with homesickness and eventually decided that returning to Galicia was better for him.
That decision eventually led to him joining Celta Vigo’s academy, where his professional career would truly take shape.
Brais Méndez’s Parents and His Villarreal Experience
One of the clearest examples of how important family was to Brais came during his two years with Villarreal.
The opportunity was an excellent one from a football perspective, but Méndez found it difficult to live far away from Mos.
Coaches from that period later remembered him as a quiet youngster who sometimes appeared sad and missed home.
His parents did everything possible to make the situation easier. They traveled when they could, and families of academy players sometimes shared accommodation during visits.
Eventually, Brais decided to return home. Villarreal accepted his decision, and the young midfielder subsequently entered Celta Vigo’s development system.
Years later, Méndez still viewed the Villarreal period as valuable because it made him more mature, even though his close connection with his family ultimately brought him back to Galicia.
Brais Méndez’s Siblings
Reliable public information about Brais Méndez’s brothers or sisters is extremely limited.
Detailed profiles of his childhood regularly identify his parents, Modesto and Sonia, but do not provide a confirmed list of siblings.
Because of this, it would be inaccurate to claim that Méndez is an only child or to attach names to supposed brothers or sisters without stronger evidence.
As of now, no siblings of Brais Méndez have been consistently and reliably identified in major Spanish football reporting.
Brais Méndez’s Grandfather
Méndez has also spoken emotionally about his late grandfather.
During an interview after joining Real Sociedad, Brais revealed that he dedicated his goals to his grandfather, who had died several years earlier.
The midfielder explained that his grandfather continued to hold an important place in his thoughts and that scoring provided an opportunity to remember him.
Although Méndez did not make extensive personal details about his grandfather public, the dedication provides another indication of how strongly he values his family relationships.
Brais Méndez’s Childhood in Mos
Brais was born in Mos, in the province of Pontevedra, and football became central to his life almost immediately.
He began playing futsal at around five years old with Sárdoma before joining Santa Mariña when he was six.
Coaches quickly noticed his unusual technical ability. Even as a young child, he was praised for playing with his head up, controlling the ball efficiently and displaying a level of awareness beyond his age.
His parents remained close throughout those formative years, while his father’s own background in Galician football provided another connection to the game.
How Family Brought Brais Méndez Back to Galicia
Méndez’s decision to leave Villarreal illustrates how important family stability was to him.
He had joined one of Spain’s respected youth systems and was surrounded by talented players, including several who would later reach professional football.
However, being far from his parents proved emotionally difficult.
Rather than remain somewhere he was unhappy simply because of the club’s reputation, Brais decided to return home. He subsequently joined Celta Vigo, putting himself much closer to his family.
La Liga has also highlighted that Méndez’s desire to be closer to his family contributed to his return to Galicia.
Brais Méndez’s Relationship With Cristina Uña
As Méndez’s professional career matured, Cristina Uña became an important part of his personal life.
The couple have spent several years together but have generally chosen discretion rather than regularly sharing details about their relationship.
The birth of Olivia in 2024 provided the first major public glimpse into their growing family.
They expanded their family again with Nico’s arrival in 2026.
The couple’s approach suggests that although Méndez has a highly public career, they prefer allowing their children to grow up with as much privacy as possible.
Brais Méndez’s Move to Columbus Crew
After four seasons with Real Sociedad, Méndez began a completely new chapter in his career in 2026.
Columbus Crew acquired the Spanish midfielder from Real Sociedad in July 2026 as a Designated Player.
The move brought Méndez to Major League Soccer after spending almost his entire senior career in Spain.
His Columbus contract runs through the 2028-29 season and includes a club option for the 2029-30 campaign.
The transfer also meant another major move for his young family, with Cristina and their two children now forming an important part of the personal considerations surrounding this new stage of his career.
Brais Méndez’s Family Life Today
As of now, Brais Méndez has built his own young family while remaining closely connected to the parents who supported his football journey.
His longtime partner is Cristina Uña. Together they have two children: Olivia, born in November 2024, and Nico, born in February 2026.
Brais’s parents are Modesto “Pupi” Méndez and Sonia Portela. His father’s own experience as a footballer helped introduce Brais to a sporting environment from childhood, while both parents supported him through the difficult decision to leave home for Villarreal and later return to Galicia.
Reliable information about siblings remains unavailable, and there is not enough evidence to establish whether Méndez has brothers or sisters.
From his childhood in Mos to Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad and now Columbus Crew, family has remained one of the consistent influences throughout Brais Méndez’s life and professional career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brais Méndez’s Family
Who is Brais Méndez’s girlfriend?
Brais Méndez’s longtime partner is Cristina Uña. The couple have been together for several years and have two children.
Is Brais Méndez married?
Reliable public sources describe Cristina Uña as Méndez’s partner. As of now, there is no widely documented confirmation that the couple have married.
Does Brais Méndez have children?
Yes. Brais Méndez and Cristina Uña have two children, Olivia and Nico.
Who is Brais Méndez’s daughter?
His daughter is Olivia Méndez Uña. She was born on November 22, 2024.
Who is Brais Méndez’s son?
His son is Nico Méndez Uña, who was born in early February 2026.
Who are Brais Méndez’s parents?
Brais Méndez’s parents are Modesto “Pupi” Méndez and Sonia Portela.
Who is Brais Méndez’s father?
His father is former footballer Modesto “Pupi” Méndez. He played as a forward for several Galician clubs, including Celta Turista, and also appeared for Deportivo de La Coruña.
Who is Brais Méndez’s mother?
Brais Méndez’s mother is Sonia Portela. She and Modesto supported Brais throughout his development, including during his difficult period living away from home at Villarreal.
Does Brais Méndez have siblings?
Reliable public sources do not currently provide enough information to confirm whether Brais Méndez has brothers or sisters.
Was Brais Méndez’s father also a footballer?
Yes. Modesto “Pupi” Méndez played competitive football in Galicia during the 1980s and later remained involved in youth football.
Why did Brais Méndez leave Villarreal’s academy?
Méndez struggled with homesickness while living away from his family as a young teenager. He eventually returned to Galicia and joined Celta Vigo’s academy.
Does Brais Méndez still play for Real Sociedad?
No. Columbus Crew acquired Brais Méndez from Real Sociedad in July 2026. He joined the MLS club as a Designated Player.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
