Rafael Lopes

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rafael Lopes

| image = Rafael Lopes 2021.jpg

| caption = Lopes with Legia Warsaw in 2021

| fullname = Rafael Guimarães Lopes{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/rafael-lopes/vitoria-setubal/1592-0-18423|title=Rafael Lopes|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|access-date=18 September 2020}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|7|28|df=y}}

| birth_place = Esposende, Portugal

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Wieczysta Kraków

| clubnumber = 91

| youthyears1 = 2002–2007 | youthclubs1 = Esposende

| youthyears2 = 2007–2010 | youthclubs2 = Varzim

| years1 = 2010–2011 | clubs1 = Varzim | caps1 = 27 | goals1 = 10

| years2 = 2011–2012 | clubs2 = Vitória Setúbal | caps2 = 23 | goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2012–2013 | clubs3 = Moreirense | caps3 = 21 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2013–2014 | clubs4 = Penafiel | caps4 = 23 | goals4 = 9

| years5 = 2014–2016 | clubs5 = Académica | caps5 = 66 | goals5 = 7

| years6 = 2016–2017 | clubs6 = Chaves | caps6 = 29 | goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2017–2018 | clubs7 = Omonia | caps7 = 25 | goals7 = 7

| years8 = 2018–2019 | clubs8 = Boavista | caps8 = 25 | goals8 = 2

| years9 = 2019–2020 | clubs9 = Cracovia | caps9 = 35 | goals9 = 12

| years10 = 2020–2022 | clubs10 = Legia Warsaw | caps10 = 47 | goals10 = 9

| years11 = 2022–2024 | clubs11 = AEK Larnaca | caps11 = 61 | goals11 = 13

| years12 = 2024–2025 | clubs12 = Anorthosis | caps12 = 23 | goals12 = 12

| years13 = 2025– | clubs13 = Wieczysta Kraków | caps13 = 14 | goals13 = 2

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| nationalyears1 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam1 = Portugal U20 | nationalcaps1 = 11 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = 15:23, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|POR}}}}

}}

Rafael Guimarães Lopes {{post-nominals|post-noms=CvIH}}{{cite web|url=http://anibalcavacosilva.arquivo.presidencia.pt/?idc=10&idi=56611&action=7|title=Presidente Cavaco Silva condecorou selecção nacional de futebol sub-20|trans-title=President Cavaco Silva decorated national under-20 football team|publisher=Arquivo Presidência|language=pt|date=6 September 2011|access-date=16 March 2021}} (born 28 July 1991) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Polish club Wieczysta Kraków.

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/fc-porto/interior/fc-porto-vence-v-setubal-no-dragao-30-1985959.html|title=FC Porto vence V. Setúbal no Dragão (3–0)|trans-title=FC Porto beat V. Setúbal at the Dragão (3–0)|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|language=pt|date=9 September 2011|access-date=13 August 2017}} He scored his first goal for his new club on 18 December, helping to a 1–1 draw at C.D. Nacional.{{cite news|url=http://www.dnoticias.pt/hemeroteca/298347-caixinha-continua-sem-vencer-IBDN298347|title=Caixinha continua sem vencer|trans-title=Caixinha remains winless|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|language=pt|date=18 December 2011|access-date=13 August 2017}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/oficial-academica-contrata-rafael-lopes-ex-penafiel-ate-2016|title=Oficial: Académica contrata Rafael Lopes (ex-Penafiel) até 2016|trans-title=Official: Académica sign Rafael Lopes (ex-Penafiel) until 2016|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=17 January 2014|access-date=13 August 2017}}

On 20 June 2016, after another relegation, Lopes stayed in the league on a one-year contract at G.D. Chaves.{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2016/06/20/desporto/noticia/desp-chaves-contrata-rafael-lopes-1735760|title=Desp. Chaves contrata Rafael Lopes|trans-title=Desp. Chaves sign Rafael Lopes|newspaper=Público|language=pt|date=20 June 2016|access-date=13 August 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.tsf.pt/desporto/interior/arouca-vence-em-tondela-e-rio-ave-empata-com-desportivo-de-chaves-5593890.html|title=Arouca vence em Tondela e Rio Ave empata com Desportivo de Chaves|trans-title=Arouca win in Tondela and Rio Ave draw with Desportivo de Chaves|publisher=TSF|language=pt|date=8 January 2017|access-date=13 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/73424/dois_de_dost_nao_foram_suficientes|title=Dois de Dost não foram suficientes|trans-title=Two from Dost were not enough|publisher=Rádio Renascença|first=Carlos|last=Calaveiras|language=pt|date=14 January 2017|access-date=13 August 2017}}

=Omonia=

On 10 July 2017, Lopes agreed to a two-year deal with AC Omonia from the Cypriot First Division.{{cite web|url=https://www.acomonia.com/news/%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%86%CE%B1%CE%B9%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%AE%CF%82-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%83-%CE%BF-%CF%81%CE%AC%CF%86%CE%B1%CE%B5%CE%BB/|script-title=el:Ποδοσφαιριστής της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ ο Ράφαελ Λόπες|trans-title=Rafael Lopes a player of Omonia|publisher=AC Omonia|language=el|date=10 July 2017|access-date=29 July 2017}} He made his debut on 10 September in the season opener, a 2–1 home win against Ethnikos Achna FC.{{cite web|url=http://omonoianews.com/podosfairo/2017/09/match-report-nikiforo-xekinima/|script-title=el:Match report: Νικηφόρο ξεκίνημα|trans-title=Match report: Winning start|publisher=Omonoia News|language=el|date=10 September 2017|access-date=10 September 2017}}

=Return to Portugal and Poland=

Lopes returned to his homeland in July 2018, joining Boavista F.C. on a one-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/desportos/avancado-rafael-lopes-assina-por-uma-epoca-com-o-boavista-9662108.html|title=Avançado Rafael Lopes assina por uma época com o Boavista|trans-title=Forward Rafael Lopes signs for one season with Boavista|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|first=David|last=Pereira|language=pt|date=31 July 2018|access-date=3 August 2022}} He scored just three times during his spell at the Estádio do Bessa,{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/lusa/rafael-lopes-deixa-boavista-para-jogar-nos-polacos-do-cracovia-10955536.html|title=Rafael Lopes deixa Boavista para jogar nos polacos do Cracóvia|trans-title=Rafael Lopes leaves Boavista to play for Poland's Cracovia|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|language=pt|date=29 May 2019|access-date=3 August 2022}} once in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal to help dispose of hosts S.C. Espinho 4–0.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/taca-de-portugal/25-11-2018/sp-espinho-boavista-0-4-cronica|title=Taça: Sp. Espinho-Boavista, 0–4 (crónica)|trans-title=Cup: Sp. Espinho-Boavista, 0–4 (report)|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Vítor|last=Maia|language=pt|date=25 November 2018|access-date=3 August 2022}}

On 29 May 2019, Lopes moved to the Ekstraklasa by signing a two-year deal with KS Cracovia.{{cite web|url=http://www.90minut.pl/news/296/news2963370-Rafael-Lopes-pilkarzem-Cracovii.html|title=Rafael Lopes piłkarzem Cracovii|trans-title=Rafael Lopes a Cracovia player|publisher=90 Minut|language=pl|date=29 May 2019|access-date=3 August 2022}} He netted a career-best 12 goals in his only season,{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-internacional/legia-varsovia-conquista-14o-titulo-de-campeao-na-polonia_d1244196|title=Legia Varsóvia conquista 14.º título de campeão na Polónia|trans-title=Legia Warsaw win 14th champions title in Poland|publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|language=pt|date=11 July 2020|access-date=3 August 2022}} also helping the club to win its first-ever Polish Cup after beating Lechia Gdańsk 3–2 in extra time.{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/futebol-internacional/artigos/cracovia-de-rafael-lopes-vence-taca-da-polonia-frente-ao-lechia-gdansk|title=Cracóvia, de Rafael Lopes, vence Taça da Polónia frente ao Lechia Gdansk|trans-title=Cracovia, of Rafael Lopes, win Polish Cup against Lechia Gdańsk|publisher=SAPO|language=pt|date=24 July 2020|access-date=22 July 2021}}

Lopes joined Legia Warsaw for 2020–21.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/made-in/artur-boruc/oficial-rafael-lopes-reforca-campeao-polaco|title=OFICIAL: Rafael Lopes reforça campeão polaco|trans-title=OFFICIAL: Rafael Lopes strengthens Polish champions|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=1 August 2020|access-date=3 August 2022}} He contributed four goals during that campaign for the champions.{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/internacional/artigos/legia-varsovia-de-andre-martins-e-rafael-lopes-e-bicampeao-da-polonia|title=Legia Varsóvia, de André Martins e Rafael Lopes, é bicampeão da Polónia|trans-title=Legia Warsaw, of André Martins and Rafael Lopes, are back-to-back champions in Poland|publisher=SAPO|language=pt|date=28 April 2021|access-date=3 August 2022}}

=Later career=

On 10 July 2022, Lopes signed for two seasons with AEK Larnaca FC from Cyprus.{{cite web|url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/mercado/mercado-transferencias/oficial-apos-tres-epocas-na-polonia-rafael-lopes-ruma-a-chipre|title=OFICIAL: após três épocas na Polónia, Rafael Lopes ruma a Chipre|trans-title=OFFICIAL: after three seasons in Poland, Rafael Lopes heads to Cyprus|publisher=CNN Portugal|language=pt|date=10 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255631/match=300145903/match-report.html|title=Oscar treble wins thrilling final for Brazil|publisher=FIFA|date=20 August 2011|access-date=13 March 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614042003/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255631/match=300145903/match-report.html|archive-date=14 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/selecao/rui-caetano/caetano-desistiu-aos-29-anos-e-os-outros-herois-do-mundial2011-sub20|title=Caetano desistiu aos 29 anos. E os outros heróis do Mundial2011 sub20?|trans-title=Caetano called it quits at the age of 29. What about the other under20 World Cup2011 heroes?|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Pedro Jorge|last=Da Cunha|language=pt|date=14 January 2021|access-date=17 March 2021}}

Honours

Cracovia

Polish Cup: 2019–20

Legia Warsaw

Ekstraklasa: 2020–21{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/internacional/portugueses/noticias/andre-martins-e-rafael-lopes-sagram-se-campeoes-da-polonia-13623920.html|title=André Martins e Rafael Lopes sagram-se campeões da Polónia|trans-title=André Martins and Rafael Lopes crowned champions of Poland|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=28 April 2021|access-date=22 July 2021}}

Portugal U20

FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2011

Orders

60px Knight of the Order of Prince Henry{{cite web|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=153|title=Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas|trans-title=Portuguese Honorary Orders|publisher=President of Portugal|language=pt|access-date=16 March 2021}}