ONE | system 08/08/2024 18:07
Pepe (Reuters)
The legendary Pepe retires. The 41-year-old Portuguese defender who played in Porto in recent years and is remembered from his time in Real Madrid, announced today (Thursday) that he is hanging up his shoes. There was quite a bit of speculation that he would continue for another season, but one of the toughest defenders in world football in the last couple of decades chose to end his career.
Pepe grew up in Maritimo and in Media made his official debut. In 2004 he came to Porto and from there he was sold to Real Madrid in 2007 for 30 million euros, when he played for them until 2017 and won with the Blancos three Spanish championships and three times in the Champions League among others.
When he left the Whites, Pepe moved to Besiktas, where he played until December 2018, and at the end of the period, the club released his contract by mutual agreement in light of financial difficulties and he returned home to Porto, in Media he managed to win two more championships and two cups since returning to the club.
Pepe won Euro 2016 with Portugal and has no less than 141 international appearances for the team. He also took part in the last Euro in Germany, when he played in the Salsa team, including in the quarter-final match against France, when his team was eliminated on penalties. During the tournament, he became the oldest player ever in the Euro and also has eight goals and four assists for the national team.
The tough stopper played in four World Cups and five times in the Euros, when in 2016 he won the man of the match title at the end of winning the final. On 12 March 2024, Pepe became the oldest outfield player to play in a Champions League knockout when he did so against Arsenal.
Pepe in a frenzy (Reuters)
The legendary stopper has 878 games in his career and won no less than 34 titles (a title every 26 games).
The one who said goodbye is the one who shared the stage with Pepe in the national team and also for a long time in Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldowho wrote: “There are not enough words to express how much you mean to me, friend. We won everything it took to win on the field, but the greatest achievement is the friendship and respect I have for you. You are special, bro. Thank you very much.”
There are not enough words to express how much you mean to me, friend.
We won everything there was to win on the field, but the greatest achievement is the friendship and respect I have for you. You are unique, my brother.
Thank you for so much. pic.twitter.com/2kNS889peS— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) August 8, 2024
Watch: Raykovic and Benzema beat Inter
