Portugal’s Pepe Announces Retirement, Closing a Decorated Career

Portugal defender Pepe has announced his retirement from professional football, marking the end of a highly decorated career that spanned more than two decades. At 41, Pepe recently became the oldest player to participate in a European Championship finals, with his last match being Portugal’s penalty shootout defeat to France in the quarter-finals.

Throughout his illustrious career, Pepe earned 141 caps for Portugal, making him the third most-capped player in the country’s history, following Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho. His club career included successful stints at Real Madrid, Porto, Besiktas, and Maritimo.

In an emotional 33-minute video posted online on Thursday, Pepe expressed gratitude to everyone who supported him throughout his career. He reflected on his journey, saying, “I can’t help but thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work.”

Pepe’s career highlights include winning the UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal and securing three UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga titles during his ten-year tenure at Real Madrid. His achievements have left an indelible mark on the sport, and he is widely regarded as one of the most successful defenders of his generation.

Pepe concluded his message with heartfelt thanks, stating, “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.”