The icon of Portugal, Porto and Real Madrid leaves the ground with a touching message

Portugal legend Pepe gave a “hug of thanks” to his friends and family in a 33-minute video announcing his retirement after 878 club and international appearances.

The 41-year-old said he “really believed” Portugal would win Uefa Euro 2024 this summer, where he became the oldest player to take part in the final, and admitted to “tears of sadness” when the 2016 champions were sent off. by France on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Victory in the Portuguese competition Taca de Portugal proved to be Pepe’s final club performance in a career that included three Uefa Champions League titles during his time at Real Madrid between 2007 and 2017.

Pepe statistics

Pepe started his career with Portuguese club Maritimo in 2002, moving to Porto in 2004. at home,'” Pepe remembers.

“[The chairman added] ‘Welcome, I hope you will be very happy at FC Porto. Your happiness will be ours’. I remember those words, the games I played at the Estadio do Dragão. It was the club that put me at the pinnacle of European football.”

After three impressive seasons with Porto, Madrid signed Pepe for around £26.7m. He went on to win that hat-trick of Champions League trophies and three Liga titles amid his stint with Europe’s most successful club before spending a season in Turkey with Besiktas.

He spent the last five years of his playing days with Porto, finishing with 34 trophies throughout his career, including five Portuguese titles.

Portugal: Pepe’s titles

Born and raised in Brazil, Pepe became a Portuguese citizen in August 2007 and was capped by Portugal for the first time later that month.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, who has played 212 games, and Joao Moutinho, who has 146, have played more games for the Selecao than Pepe’s combined 141.

The midfielder thanked his agent Jorge Mendes and representatives, and called his mother “important in my journey for allowing me to fly towards my dream, which was to be a footballer”.

“My wife was at home when I was not there [and I thank] my children for believing in me, for being the basic support in my life, for supporting me when I leave home to play,” added Pepe.

Porto player Marko Grujic called Pepe “a big character in the dressing room” and “a true captain”. “Of course we will miss a player like him,” added Grujic, using Ojogo.

“This club must live with what it has. Older players like me will try to help the younger ones to do as Pepe did.”