How Acquired: Traded to the Galaxy from Chivas USA in exchange for midfieler Paolo Cardozo on April 10, 2012.
An experienced center back who has played in South America and Europe, Lopes is in his second season in MLS.
MLS Highlights
The 29-year-old signed with Chivas USA on August 12, 2011 and made his debut for the club a day later as a second half substitute in a 0-0 draw at Seattle. He went on to make eight appearances for the club, starting each of the final seven games that he played in, including their final five games of the regular season. This season, Lopes was in the 18-man squad for two of Chivas USA’s five games, but did not make a first team appearance.
Career Highlights
A native of Maringá, Brazil, Lopes made his professional debut with Clube Atlético Paranaense in 2002. Later that year, Lopes signed with FC Porto of Portugal, who at the time were managed by Jose Mourinho. After a short stint with Porto’s B team, he returned to Brazil for a year, signing with Iraty, before heading back to Europe in 2005 when he signed with NK Osijek of the 1. HNL, which is the first division of Croatian soccer. Following two and a half years with Osijek, Lopes moved to Russia, signing with FC Terek Grozny of the Russian Premier League for the second half of the 2008 season. Lopes was on the move again a few months later, signing with Cordoba FC of the Spanish second division ahead of the start of the 2009-10 Spanish season. He spent one season with Cordoba before heading to Romania, where he joined FC Universitatea Craiova of the Romanian Liga I for the 2010-11 campaign.