He amassed Ligue 1 totals of 455 matches and 130 goals in representation of six teams, mainly Sochaux and Toulouse, in a 17-year professional career.

[2] He made his senior debut with the former at only 17, helping it to the second position in the domestic championship in 1979–80 and the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup the following campaign.

[4] Stopyra won his first cap for the France national team on 27 February 1980, in a friendly with Greece where he scored the final 5–1.

[5] Stopyra was picked by manager Henri Michel for the squad that competed at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

He appeared in all the games but one in Mexico as Les Bleus finished in third position, scoring against Hungary in the group stage (3–0) and against Italy in the round of 16 (2–0).