Pepe Hangs Up His Boots After Illustrious Career
Portuguese football legend, Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, popularly known as Pepe, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 41.
The veteran defender leaves behind an illustrious career spanning over two decades.
Renowned for his combative style and leadership qualities, Pepe became a symbol of success at both club and international level.
With a trophy cabinet overflowing with silverware, Pepe’s career is a testament to his dedication and talent.
He made 878 professional appearances for Marítimo, FC Porto, Real Madrid, and Beşiktaş, winning a staggering 34 trophies.
His international career was equally impressive, with 141 caps for Portugal.
Pepe was part of the Euro 2016-winning squad and represented his country at four World Cups.
His former teammate at both club and international level, Cristano Ronaldo has expressed his sentiment towards the news of Pepe’s retirement.
“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 & respect I have for you. You are unique, my brother. Thank you for so much.”
Notably, he holds the record for the oldest player to appear in a UEFA EURO match, having played at the age of 41 years and 130 days during the 2024 tournament in Germany where Portugal exited in the quarter finals on penalty shootout against France.