Anthony Lopes

Anthony Lopes ComM (European Portuguese: [ˈɐ̃ntõni ˈlɔpɨʃ]; born 1 October 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 1 club Lyon.

Anthony Lopes
Lopes in 2022
Personal information
Full nameAnthony Lopes[1]
Date of birth (1990-10-01) 1 October 1990 (age 33)[1]
Place of birthGivors, France[1]
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s)Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Lyon
Number1
Youth career
1996–2000OSGL Football
2000–2008Lyon
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2012Lyon B38(0)
2012–Lyon378(0)
International career
2007Portugal U176(0)
2007Portugal U181(0)
2007–2009Portugal U1917(0)
2010Portugal U201(0)
2011–2013Portugal U2111(0)
2015–2021Portugal14(0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Winner2016 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:12, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

Lopes came through the youth ranks at Lyon, being called to the first team in 2011 and making his debut the following year. A one-club man, he has made over 475 appearances for the club, including the Coupe de la Ligue finals of 2014 and 2020.

Born in France, Lopes represents Portugal internationally, totalling 36 caps at youth level including 11 for the under-21 team. He made his senior debut for the country in March 2015, and was chosen for Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.

Club career

Lopes with Lyon in 2019

Born in Givors in metropolitan Lyon to Portuguese parents,[3][4] Lopes joined local Lyon's youth system at the age of 9. He was promoted to the first team for the 2012–13 season, acting as third choice behind Rémy Vercoutre and Mathieu Valverde. His first match as a professional took place on 31 October 2012, in a 3–1 away loss against Nice in the Coupe de la Ligue.[5][6] On 6 December he first appeared in the UEFA Europa League, in a 2–0 home win over Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona that allowed the team to advance unbeaten into the knockout stages.[7]

Lopes' maiden appearance in Ligue 1 took place on 28 April 2013, in a 1–1 home draw against Saint-Étienne in the Derby du Rhône where he made an early close-range save from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, later conceding the first goal from a Kurt Zouma header.[8] This was the first of five league matches he played for the main squad at the end of the campaign, ending with a 2–0 home defeat of Rennes which saw Lyon finishing in third place and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.[9]

After Vercourtre went down with an injury, Lopes became the starter and retained his position after the former's recovery, even though he would also be afflicted by a double vertebra fracture in early November 2013.[10][11] He featured in their run to the domestic League Cup final, where they lost 2–1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the decisive match at the Stade de France on 19 April 2014.[12]

On 3 December 2016, during a league game, Lopes was hit by a firecracker thrown from the stands as he was laying injured in the penalty area at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, home to Metz.[13] He made his 300th appearance on 27 August 2019 in a 1–0 loss at Montpellier,[14] and the following day extended his contract until 2023.[15]

Lopes played in the French league cup final on 29 July 2020, the last in the competition's history. He kept the game scoreless over 120 minutes against PSG before defeat in a penalty shootout.[16] On 3 October 2021, he was sent off for the first time in a 1–1 away draw with Saint-Étienne, for handling the ball outside the area;[17] he was suspended for two matches.[18] The following 9 January, in a home fixture of the same score against PSG, he made his 400th appearance.[19][20]

In June 2022, Lopes extended his contract to last until 2025.[21] On 28 February 2023, he played in a 2–1 home win over Grenoble in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France despite having a broken finger.[22] Despite maintaining the starting role in the 2023–24 league season, he was benched for the latter stages of the cup campaign for younger Brazilian Lucas Perri, including the 2–1 final loss to PSG.[23][24]

International career

Lopes at the 2018 World Cup

Lopes opted to represent Portugal, so his father made a phone call to the Portuguese Football Federation to alert to this fact,[25] and he first appeared with the under-21 side on 9 February 2011, playing the first 45 minutes of a 3–1 friendly win against Sweden in Cartaxo.[26] On 4 September 2013, he received his first callup to the full side due to injury to Sevilla's Beto.[27]

On 31 March 2015, Lopes made his debut for the main squad, in a 0–2 friendly defeat to Cape Verde at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in Estoril.[28] The following 17 May, he was selected by manager Fernando Santos for his UEFA Euro 2016 squad.[29]

Lopes was also picked for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[30] After a break of over two years, he returned to the field for his first competitive cap on 5 September 2020 in a 4–1 home victory over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.[31]

In October 2022, Lopes was named in a preliminary 55-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar.[32] He was cut from the final list.[33]

Personal life

Lopes and his family supported Porto, reflecting their northern roots. His father migrated as a baby from Barcelos, while his French-born mother had parents from Miranda do Douro.[34]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 19 May 2024[35][36]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCoupe de FranceCoupe de la LigueEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lyon2012–13Ligue 15000101[a]070
2013–14Ligue 1320004013[b]0490
2014–15Ligue 138020104[a]0450
2015–16Ligue 137030006[c]01[d]0470
2016–17Ligue 1370200014[e]01[d]0540
2017–18Ligue 1340400010[a]0480
2018–19Ligue 134050008[c]0470
2019–20Ligue 1260401010[c]0410
2020–21Ligue 138010390
2021–22Ligue 1340008[a]0420
2022–23Ligue 132050370
2023–24Ligue 131020330
Career total378028070740204890

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[37]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal201520
201620
201710
201820
202030
202140
Total140

Honours

Lyon

Portugal

Individual

Orders

References