By Louis Smith.
Like many Brazilians, Anderson Lopes has built a remarkable career by making the bold decision to relocate from Brazil and pursue opportunities in other countries.
Born in Recife, Lopes began his youth career in 2006 when he joined the local club Sport Recife. Subsequent stints with São José-RS, Internacional, and Avaí paved the way for his entry into professional football. His debut came on November 29, 2013, as a second-half substitute in Avaí’s 1-0 home victory over Boa Esporte.
Following his debut, Lopes went on to play 117 matches in Brazil for four different clubs between 2013 and 2016. He then made the move to Japanese football, joining Sanfrecce Hiroshima on loan, where he made 48 appearances and scored 13 goals over two years. This period was followed by another loan move, this time to South Korea with FC Seoul.
Eventually, Lopes secured a permanent move to Japan, accepting an offer from Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, where he continued to develop his career.
“The opportunity arose to go to Japanese football in 2016 and I didn’t think twice. It was an experience I would like to have and one I couldn’t turn down,” Anderson Lopes Tells WFi.
“When settling into a new country, the beginning is always a little complicated due to the language and daily life, but then I adapted quickly. Today I am fully integrated into Asia and I really like living here.”
On a side that struggled for consistency in the league, Lopes was a clear standout. In their first season, the team finished tenth in the league but reached the J League Cup Final for the first time in their history. The Brazilian managed nine goals in 25 games.
His highlight for the club came in a 5-2 victory over Shimizu, where he scored four goals, a moment he will certainly never forget.
“Talking about just one game is difficult,” Lopes says. “There are several [highlights], but I believe the day I scored four goals when I was at Sapporo and I jumped into the fire.
“This had a worldwide repercussion and went down in history.”
He would spend another one and a half seasons with Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo before joining the Chinese club Wuhan FC in 2021.
Lopes’ time in China was short but productive in terms of his goalscoring output, as he scored seven times in 18 games for the club, attracting interest from one of Japan’s biggest sides, Yokohama F. Marinos.
“Football in China is very different from Japan and Brazil, but it was also a cool experience,” he says. “I learned a lot of things there.”
Lopes couldn’t refuse the offer from Yokohama F. Marinos and joined the team in February 2022, making an instant impact on his debut by coming on as a substitute, scoring, and providing an assist in a 2-2 draw with Cerezo Osaka.
This performance was a sign of things to come for the Brazilian, who finished the 2022 season with 11 goals as Yokohama Marinos secured their seventh Japanese title.
Silverware did not affect Lopes’ focus, as he continued to grow stronger in the following years. In 2023, he finished as the top scorer in the league with 22 goals in 34 games, earning a place in the J League Best XI.
The year 2024 has also been outstanding for Lopes, who is currently the top scorer in the J League with 23 goals to his name.
In summary, since joining the club, he has evolved into a goalscoring machine, netting 65 goals in 126 games—and he is only getting better.
“Marinos is different from all the clubs I played for in Asia,” said Lopes. “Marinos is a team that plays to win and always wants to win titles.
“I arrived with a lot of desire to win and help, and thank God I managed to win my first title in Japan.
“I’m really living a different phase in my career and I hope to maintain it for a long time!
“What changed a little was setting the objective of scoring goals in every game, I tried to work more on finishing and always being well-prepared physically. This has helped me a lot, in addition to our team being very good, and that makes “my job easier.”
Lopes also shared insight into his impressive form in front of goal: “I always try to remain calm to make the right decision, especially here in Japan. Sometimes there are one or two chances per game, at most, and you have to take advantage of them.”
From humble beginnings in Recife to dominating Asian football, Anderson Lopes’ journey is a testament to determination and talent.
With countless goals, league titles, and personal accolades, he continues to be a driving force for Yokohama Marinos.