Former Real Madrid Legend, Pepe Announces Retirement From Football

Portuguese defender, Pepe has announced his retirement from football at the age of 41, concluding one of the most successful careers of this generation.

This summer, Pepe made history as the oldest player to participate in a European Championship, with his final match being Portugal’s penalty shootout loss to France in the quarter-finals.

Throughout his career, Pepe earned 141 caps for Portugal, making him the third most-capped player in the nation’s history, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho. The former Real Madrid center-back also played for clubs like Porto, Besiktas, and Maritimo.

In a heartfelt 33-minute video posted online on Thursday, Pepe expressed deep gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout his career. He thanked the presidents, club employees, and the national team staff, emphasizing their essential roles in his journey.