After an illustrious career spanning over two decades, Portuguese football legend Pepe has officially announced his retirement from the sport.
The 41-year-old, widely regarded as one of the world’s top defenders, steps away from the game after a remarkable journey that saw him represent his country with distinction and achieve tremendous success at the club level.
In a video posted on his Instagram page on Thursday, Pepe simply captioned his announcement with “OBRIGADO.”
Pepe’s final match came at Euro 2024, where Portugal was eliminated by France on penalties in the quarterfinals. He became the oldest player to appear in a European Championship finals tournament.
Throughout his decorated career, Pepe earned 141 caps for the Portuguese national team, helping his country win the European Championship in 2016.
At the club level, Pepe’s most notable stint was his 10-year tenure with Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he collected a slew of trophies, including three La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League titles.
He also claimed two FIFA Club World Cups during his time at the Santiago Bernabéu.
In 2019, Pepe returned to his former club, Porto, where he continued to shine, securing four Primeira Liga titles across his two spells with the Portuguese powerhouse.
