Follow usPortuguese defender Pepe has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 41.
Pepe’s final appearance came at this summer’s European Championship, where he made history as the oldest player to compete in the tournament’s finals. His last match was a hard-fought penalty shootout defeat to France in the quarter-finals, bringing down the curtain on his international career with 141 caps for Portugal, ranking him third in the all-time appearances list for his country, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and João Moutinho.
This is how Pepe announced his retirement.
Thank you for everything, legend. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xDX05dbscl
— TC (@totalcristiano) August 8, 2024
In a heartfelt 33-minute video posted online, Pepe expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout his career, from club presidents to the behind-the-scenes staff at every club he played for. He particularly thanked those who believed in him and helped him to achieve his dreams on the pitch.
Pepe won the UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal, a triumph that stands out as one of his most significant international successes. At the club level, he was a cornerstone of Real Madrid during a dominant period for the club, contributing to three UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga championships over a decade at the Santiago Bernabéu. He made 334 appearances for Real Madrid, cementing his legacy as one of the club’s great defenders.
In addition to his time at Real Madrid, Pepe enjoyed successful stints with Porto, where he began and ended his European club career, as well as Besiktas in Turkey and Marítimo in Portugal.
