Joel Mendes (25 June 1946 – 9 December 2024) was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Revealed by Coritiba in the late 1960s, Joel Mendes stood out for the elasticity and speed of his jumps, which earned him a move to Santos in 1970.
He also had a notable spell at Vitória, where he was elected Bola de Prata for his performance in the 1974 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
[1] In 1975 he had another spell at Santos, but moved to Bahia, where he was state champion in 1975, 1976 and 1977.
[2][3][4][5] Mendes died from a stroke in Curitiba, on 9 December 2024, at the age of 78.