Pepe impressed for Portugal at Euro 2024 this summer; Portuguese made 141 international appearances, winning Euro 2016, and won three league titles and three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid; defender also won four league crowns across two spells with Porto
Portugal defender Pepe has retired from football, the 41-year-old said on Thursday.
Pepe’s last game came at Euro 2024, where Portugal were defeated by France on penalties in the quarter-finals, and he became the oldest player to appear at a European Championship finals tournament.
“I want to thank God for giving me the wisdom to be able to continue my journey,” an emotional Pepe said in a video on social media which looked back on his career.
“I can’t help but also thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work. To all the employees of all the clubs I’ve been to, who are the soul and essence of the clubs and the national team.
“And I want to thank everyone in the background. I want to leave a thank you and a hug of gratitude for all of you. And thank you all very much.”
Pepe made 141 appearances for his country, winning the Euros in 2016, and spent 10 seasons at Real Madrid, where he won three LaLiga titles and three Champions League trophies, as well as two Club World Cups.
Pepe joined the Spanish side in 2007 from Porto and returned to the Portuguese club in 2019, where he remained until the end of his career, winning four Primeira Liga titles across his two spells at the club.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who played with Pepe at Real Madrid and Portugal, said: “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.”
