and the Portuguese club eventually bought the remaining economic rights of the player for €4.4 million. López only scored ten goals in 2008–09, but finished fourth in the scoring list in the Champions League with six, only trailing Lionel Messi, Steven Gerrard and Miroslav Klose. Porto wrapped up the season with the conquest of the Taça de Portugal, and he netted the game's only goal in a victory over Paços de Ferreira. Lyon After the sale of Karim Benzema to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, López replaced him at Lyon, being transferred for a fee of €24 million, plus a €4 million bonus subject to performances. On 8 August, he scored on his Ligue 1 debut from a last-minute free kick at Le Mans, in a 2–2 draw. He added a hat-trick against Anderlecht in the second leg of the Champions League qualifying round, in an eventual 8–2 aggregate win. On 4 November 2009, López scored a late and decisive equaliser in a group game against Liverpool to ensure qualification for the knockout stage. Four days later he netted twice in three minutes in a 5–5 league draw with Marseille, adding a further three the following month, against Lille; the visitors led 3–1 at half-time, but were eventually defeated 3–4. On 30 March 2010, López scored twice in the 3–1 home victory against Bordeaux in the Champions League quarter-finals (3–2 aggregate win), but missed the second leg due to suspension. He continued this good form with a goal in Lyon's 2–1 away defeat of Rennes, four days later. On the final day of the season, López assisted Miralem Pjanić in a 2–0 home win against Le Mans, a result which placed his team second in the league table, with the subsequent direct Champions League qualification. On 9 May 2010, he was named Ligue 1 Footballer of the Year. López scored in a 3–2 away win over Nancy on 2 October 2010, Lyon's second of the campaign. He added two in the next ligue fixture – one from a penalty kick – a 3–1 defeat of Lille at the Stade de Gerland. On 20 October he found the net again, against Benfica in a 2–0 Champions League group stage win. After a one-month spell without a goal, López finally added to his account by grabbing a last-minute goal in a 3–1 away win against Lens in November 2010. He