Rafael Lopes

Rafael Guimarães Lopes CvIH[2] (born 28 July 1991) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Cypriot First Division club AEK Larnaca.

For other people named Rafael Lopes, see Rafael Lopes (disambiguation).

Rafael Lopes
Lopes with Legia Warsaw in 2021
Personal information
Full name Rafael Guimarães Lopes[1]
Date of birth (1991-07-28) 28 July 1991[1]
Place of birth Esposende, Portugal[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 AEK Larnaca
Number 12
Youth career
2002–2007 Esposende
2007–2010 Varzim
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Varzim 27 (10)
2011–2012 Vitória Setúbal 23 (3)
2012–2013 Moreirense 21 (0)
2013–2014 Penafiel 23 (9)
2014–2016 Académica 66 (7)
2016–2017 Chaves 29 (5)
2017–2018 Omonia 25 (7)
2018–2019 Boavista 25 (2)
2019–2020 Cracovia 35 (12)
2020–2022 Legia Warsaw 47 (9)
2022– AEK Larnaca 37 (6)
International career
2010–2011 Portugal U20 11 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up2011 Colombia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:55, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Portugal

Born in Esposende, Braga District, Lopes started his senior career with Varzim S.C. in the Segunda Liga. In the summer of 2011 he moved to the Primeira Liga after joining Vitória FC, making his debut in the competition on 9 September when he came on as a late substitute in a 3–0 away loss against FC Porto.[3] He scored his first goal for his new club on 18 December, helping to a 1–1 draw at C.D. Nacional.[4]

In the 2013 off-season, after failing to find the net for Moreirense F.C. in 21 bench appearances and suffering top-flight relegation, Lopes returned to division two with F.C. Penafiel. He moved back to the top tier the following winter transfer window, signing for Académica de Coimbra until June 2016.[5]

On 20 June 2016, after another relegation, Lopes stayed in the league on a one-year contract at G.D. Chaves.[6] Two of his league goals during the campaign came in consecutive 2–2 draws in early January 2017, against Rio Ave F.C. and Sporting CP.[7][8]

Omonia

On 10 July 2017, Lopes agreed to a two-year deal with AC Omonia from the Cypriot First Division.[9] He made his debut on 10 September in the season opener, a 2–1 home win against Ethnikos Achna FC.[10]

Return to Portugal and Poland

Lopes returned to his homeland in July 2018, joining Boavista F.C. on a one-year contract.[11] He scored just three times during his spell at the Estádio do Bessa,[12] once in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal to help dispose of hosts S.C. Espinho 4–0.[13]

On 29 May 2019, Lopes moved to the Ekstraklasa by signing a two-year deal with KS Cracovia.[14] He netted a career-best 12 goals in his only season,[15] also helping the club to win its first-ever Polish Cup after beating Lechia Gdańsk 3–2 in extra time.[16]

Lopes joined Legia Warsaw for 2020–21.[17] He contributed four goals during that campaign for the champions.[18]

Later career

On 10 July 2021, Lopes signed for two seasons with AEK Larnaca FC from Cyprus.[19]

International career

Lopes was part of the Portugal squad at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played four matches in the tournament held in Colombia, in an eventual runner-up finish.[20][21]

Honours

Cracovia

Legia Warsaw

Portugal U20

Orders

References
  1. "Rafael Lopes" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  2. "Presidente Cavaco Silva condecorou selecção nacional de futebol sub-20" [President Cavaco Silva decorated national under-20 football team] (in Portuguese). Arquivo Presidência. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. "FC Porto vence V. Setúbal no Dragão (3–0)" [FC Porto beat V. Setúbal at the Dragão (3–0)]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 9 September 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  4. "Caixinha continua sem vencer" [Caixinha remains winless]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 18 December 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. "Oficial: Académica contrata Rafael Lopes (ex-Penafiel) até 2016" [Official: Académica sign Rafael Lopes (ex-Penafiel) until 2016] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  6. "Desp. Chaves contrata Rafael Lopes" [Desp. Chaves sign Rafael Lopes]. Público (in Portuguese). 20 June 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. "Arouca vence em Tondela e Rio Ave empata com Desportivo de Chaves" [Arouca win in Tondela and Rio Ave draw with Desportivo de Chaves] (in Portuguese). TSF. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. Calaveiras, Carlos (14 January 2017). "Dois de Dost não foram suficientes" [Two from Dost were not enough] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  9. Ποδοσφαιριστής της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ ο Ράφαελ Λόπες [Rafael Lopes a player of Omonia] (in Greek). AC Omonia. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  10. Match report: Νικηφόρο ξεκίνημα [Match report: Winning start] (in Greek). Omonoia News. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  11. Pereira, David (31 July 2018). "Avançado Rafael Lopes assina por uma época com o Boavista" [Forward Rafael Lopes signs for one season with Boavista]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  12. "Rafael Lopes deixa Boavista para jogar nos polacos do Cracóvia" [Rafael Lopes leaves Boavista to play for Poland's Cracovia]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 May 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  13. Maia, Vítor (25 November 2018). "Taça: Sp. Espinho-Boavista, 0–4 (crónica)" [Cup: Sp. Espinho-Boavista, 0–4 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  14. "Rafael Lopes piłkarzem Cracovii" [Rafael Lopes a Cracovia player] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  15. "Legia Varsóvia conquista 14.º título de campeão na Polónia" [Legia Warsaw win 14th champions title in Poland] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  16. "Cracóvia, de Rafael Lopes, vence Taça da Polónia frente ao Lechia Gdansk" [Cracovia, of Rafael Lopes, win Polish Cup against Lechia Gdańsk] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  17. "OFICIAL: Rafael Lopes reforça campeão polaco" [OFFICIAL: Rafael Lopes strengthens Polish champions] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  18. "Legia Varsóvia, de André Martins e Rafael Lopes, é bicampeão da Polónia" [Legia Warsaw, of André Martins and Rafael Lopes, are back-to-back champions in Poland] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  19. "OFICIAL: após três épocas na Polónia, Rafael Lopes ruma a Chipre" [OFFICIAL: after three seasons in Poland, Rafael Lopes heads to Cyprus] (in Portuguese). CNN Portugal. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  20. "Oscar treble wins thrilling final for Brazil". FIFA. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  21. Da Cunha, Pedro Jorge (14 January 2021). "Caetano desistiu aos 29 anos. E os outros heróis do Mundial2011 sub20?" [Caetano called it quits at the age of 29. What about the other under20 World Cup2011 heroes?] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  22. "André Martins e Rafael Lopes sagram-se campeões da Polónia" [André Martins and Rafael Lopes crowned champions of Poland]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 28 April 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  23. "Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas" [Portuguese Honorary Orders] (in Portuguese). President of Portugal. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.