At 41, the Portuguese defender Pepe has announced his retirement from professional football after a decorated career spanning 737 matches across Real Madrid, Porto, Besiktas, and Maritimo, and 141 appearances for Portugal.
Pepe’s contract with Porto expired on June 30th, and despite interest from other clubs, he has decided to call time on his illustrious career.
The news was confirmed by the player himself in an emotional video on his social media, where he was seen holding aloft the trophies he won throughout his illustrious career.
“I want to express my gratitude to God for guiding me throughout this journey,” he begins, before acknowledging the invaluable support of his family, coaches, and teammates. “Without their unwavering support, I wouldn’t be able to retire with a clear conscience.”
Throughout his career, Pepe lifted 33 trophies, including those won during his time at Real Madrid, Porto, and with the Portuguese national team.
It’s worth noting that Pepe’s final match came on July 5th, when Portugal lost on penalties to France in the quarter-finals of the Euro Cup.