Born in
Lisbon, Bastos Lopes progressed through
S.L. Benfica's youth system, arriving in the first team after a loan spell at neighbouring
G.D. Estoril Praia. However, due to stiff competition from
Humberto Coelho and
António Oliveira in defense and
Shéu and
Glenn Strömberg in midfield, he appeared only as a
substitute on most occasions; additionally, he was loaned to
G.D. Estoril-Praia for the
1979–80 season, and to
C.F. Os Belenenses for
1984–85. After leaving in the summer of 1985, Bastos Lopes continued competing always in the
Primeira Liga in the following campaigns, with
F.C. Penafiel and
S.C. Braga. He nearly signed for
Deportivo de La Coruña in 1988, but did not pass his medical. Bastos Lopes retired in 1989, at the age of only 29. He subsequently started a lengthy managerial career, never in higher than the
third division. In 2004, he led
Benfica's juniors to the national championship. ==International career==