Mendes da Silva started his career at Sparta Rotterdam in 1999 signed a professional contract, withdrawing in 2004 and was for a time on loan at Ajax, without, however, to measure formal involvement with the jersey. The next stop in his career was the NAC Breda, that signed Mendes da Silva in summer 2004 in a four-year deal, where he made 56 appearances scoring five goals. Two year later, he was signed by AZ Alkmaar in a five-year deal, where he made 119 appearances scoring 11 goals in all competitions. He was a regular at AZ for four seasons which included a Dutch title triumph in 2008–09. In 2010 transferred to Red Bull Salzburg. Salzburg coach Huub Stevens signed his No.1 transfer target after completing a move for Mendes da Silva who signed a three-year contract with the Austrian side. He arrived for an undisclosed fee. He head previously worked with Stevens' assistant Ton Lokhoff during a spell at NAC Breda. On 20 October2009, Mendes da Silva scored a 93rd-minute equaliser against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League to give his team somewhat of a historic result after Arsenal had led through Cesc Fàbregas's first half goal. There he stayed until February 2013. On 4 July 2013, Mendes da Silva signed for Greek club Panathinaikos on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. With his new team Panathinaikos he won the Greek Cup in the 2013–14 season against PAOK with the score of 4–1 and after finishing first in the Super League playoffs he played in the third and playoff rounds of the UEFA Champions League. After advancing in the third round of the Champions League competition and elimination in the playoff round of the Champions League the team and Mendes participated in the group stage of the 2014–15 UEFA Cup Competition. The Greek side was managed by former Roda JC, and Ajax striker Giannis Anastasiou.
International career
Mendes da Silva made his international debut for Netherlands on 7 February 2007. In total he earned seven Netherlands, with his last appearance for the Oranje back in 2009, coming on in the 84th minute of a 0–0 draw with Australia. He also played for Dutch U-20s team at 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, which lost to Egypt in the quarter-finals.
