LOPEZ PINEDO Daniel

General
RARE GOAL
He scored a goal during the bronze medal match of the 2019 World League against Australia. He was able to score because of a rule that had been introduced to allow goalkeepers to enter the opposition's half. "It was a nice coincidence because we are just adapting [to the new rules], but I don't think goalies scoring will be a usual thing. Goalkeepers will come out only in desperate situations or the last play of the game. In other cases, it is too dangerous because making a change in water polo is slow and there are too many risks." (lavanguardia.com, 01 Jul 2019; wpdworld.com, 23 Jun 2019)

POSSIBLE RETIREMENT
In 2020 he expressed his intention to retire in 2022. "I also thought I would stop after Rio [the 2016 Olympic Games], and then after the 2018 European Championship because it took place in Barcelona [in Spain]. But you feel well each time and you continue. The time never comes to quit. I've been deciding season by season for the last four or five years. At this age you don't know when the physical and mental slump will hit. But at the moment I am having fun training and playing games. Being able to dedicate yourself to something you like is a privilege, it is something that practically does not exist in everyday life. I really enjoy the day to day." (lavanguardia.com, 17 Oct 2020)