He came through the youth ranks at Lyon, being called to the first team in 2011 and making his debut the following year. He made 489 appearances for the club, including the Coupe de la Ligue finals of 2014 and 2020.[3]
Born in France, Lopes represented 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.
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.[11][12] 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.[13]
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.[14] He made his 300th appearance on 27 August 2019 in a 1–0 loss at Montpellier,[15] and the following day extended his contract until 2023.[16]
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.[17] 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;[18] he was suspended for two matches.[19] The following 9 January, in a home fixture of the same score against PSG, he made his 400th appearance.[20][21]
In 2024–25, still under manager Pierre Sage, Lopes went from first to third-choice behind Perri and Rémy Descamps. In an interview to newspaper L'Équipe on the day of his 34th birthday, he mentioned what he perceived to be a disrespectful treatment of him by the club.[26][3]
Nantes
On 30 December 2024, Lopes terminated his contract with Lyon by mutual consent and moved to Nantes.[27]
Lopes opted to represent Portugal, so his father made a phone call to the Portuguese Football Federation to alert to this fact,[28] 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.[29] On 4 September 2013, he received his first callup to the full side due to injury to Sevilla's Beto.[30]
Lopes was also picked for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[33] 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.[34]
In October 2022, Lopes was named in a preliminary 55-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar.[35] He was cut from the final list.[36]
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.[37]
^Magalhães, Luís (28 August 2019). "Anthony Lopes renova com o Lyon até 2023" [Anthony Lopes renews with Lyon until 2023]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 October 2019.
^Chabas, Gwendal (9 January 2022). "OL – PSG: 400e match pour Anthony Lopes" [OL – PSG: 400th match for Anthony Lopes] (in French). Olympique et Lyonnais. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
