Portugal defender Pepe has announced his retirement at the age of 41.
Pepe, who played for Real Madrid and Porto, confirmed he was hanging up his boots in a 33-minute video posted to social media.
The veteran centre-back played 878 matches in all and won an impressive 34 trophies, including the Champions League on three occasions with Madrid and the 2016 European Championship for Portugal.
Uma carreira e um legado que serão sempre um exemplo para qualquer portista 💙
Só há duas palavras possíveis: parabéns e obrigado.#L3NDA @officialpepe pic.twitter.com/XfFdsKH7XQ
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) August 8, 2024
He represented his country 141 times and featured in Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign which saw them knocked out at the quarter-final stage following a penalty shootout defeat to France.
Pepe started out in 2002 for Maritimo before moving to Porto two years later.
He then enjoyed a decade-long stint at Real Madrid, winning LaLiga three times, before moving to Turkey with Besiktas and then ending his career back at Porto.
The Portuguese club said on X: “A career and a legacy that will always be an example for any Porto fan.
“There are only two possible words: Congratulations and thank you.”
