A few weeks after Portugal’s elimination from Euro 2024, Portuguese defender Pepe has bowed out. While he had announced that he wanted to retire from the national team with Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old finally announced his retirement this Thursday… Tributes continue to pour in for the rugged defender with a heartbreaking message from his great friend CR7.
The date of August 8 will remain in football history. A few weeks after the Portuguese Seleção was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the European Nations Championship, Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira, better known as Pepe, hung up his boots. Arriving at Euro 2024 as the oldest player (41 years old), he had an excellent competition. With his lifelong friend, Cristiano, the former Real Madrid defender guided the Portuguese selection as best he could. Despite incredible form at his age, the 2016 European champion was not extended by FC Porto, where he had been playing since 2019.
Pepe’s surprise departure
While we were waiting for a new destination for the defender known for his rough and violent game, the surprise arrived this Thursday with the announcement of his retirement. On his social networks, Pepe posted a rather moving video to say goodbye to the world of professional football. Although he had the opportunity to join a new project and play an important role, the former Besiktas player preferred to say stop. On social networks, the newly retired player received a huge wave of messages of recognition.
Before the heartbreaking reaction of CR7, with whom he has come a long way, Pepe received a warm message from Real Madrid. To salute the career of the Portuguese defender who spent ten years at the club (2007-2017, 334 games for 15 goals), Florentino Pérez’s club expressed its great respect. Following Pepe’s announcement of his retirement from professional football, Real Madrid CF would like to express its gratitude, affection and admiration for one of the great legends of our club and world football.« , can be read on the club’s official website.
Real’s great mark of respect for Pepe
To highlight the greatness of the player who will now devote his life to something other than football, the Madrid club did not fail to mention all the trophies won by Pepe: ” He defended our shirt and won 14 titles in 334 games: 3 Champions Leagues, 2 Club World Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 3 Leagues, 2 Copa del Reys and 2 Spanish Super Cups… Pepe was one of the best defenders for Real Madrid and in European football, and he will always have the recognition and affection of all Real Madrid fans. Real Madrid wishes him and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of his life.. »
This is a great mark of recognition from Real Madrid for the former partner of Sergio Ramos who caused a lot of trouble for the attackers. In any case, with the departure of Pepe, Cristiano remains the only veteran still active in the Portuguese national team. On his social networks, the captain of Al Nassr expressed his sadness after the announcement of the withdrawal of his friend who joined him in the national team in 2007.
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
« There are not enough words to express how much you mean to me, my friend. We have won everything on the field, but the greatest achievement is the friendship and respect I have for you. You are unique, my brother. Thank you for everything” , wrote CR7. Let us recall that in his professional career, Pepe played 743 matches for 42 goals in 22 years. With the national team, he played 141 matches for 8 goals between 2007 and 2024. Good rest to the living legend of modern football, one might say.
