Former Real Madrid star Pepe announces retirement from ...

Updated 08/08/2024 at 18:23 GMT

Veteran Portuguese centre-back Pepe has announced his retirement from professional football after a trophy-laden 23 years at the top.

The former Real Madrid and FC Porto defender broke the news on his social media channels, posting a 33-minute video on YouTube entitled ‘Obrigado’ – ‘Thank you’ in Portuguese.

His final appearance came for his national side in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, when Portugal were knocked out by France on penalties.

In total, the 41-year-old played 878 games across spells with five clubs, winning a staggering 34 trophies in the process.

His most illustrious former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, sent Pepe a heartfelt message on Instagram after the retirement announcement.

Ronaldo - who played with Pepe both with the national team and Real Madrid - wrote: "There are no words to express how much you mean to me, my 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 so much."

Pepe, born Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, started his career at Maritimo on the island of Madeira, making his professional bow in 2002 in a 0-0 draw with Boavista.

The Brazilian-born defender went on to sign for Porto in 2004, where he won four league titles over two spells at the Primeira Liga club.

He is probably best known as Real Madrid's no-nonsense centre-half, spending a decade at the Spanish giants and winning almost every collective accolade available.

Counting three Champions League and three La Liga titles among his most prized silverware, Pepe will also treasure Portugal's shock triumph in the final of Euro 2016.

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Named Player of the Match in that 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts France, Pepe also made the European Championship Team of the Tournament in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

At the time of his retirement, he sat third on Portugal's list of all-time appearance makers, his 141 caps only bettered by Joao Moutinho and former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

After a brief stint in Turkey with Besiktas, he returned to a familiar stomping ground in Porto, picking up five domestic cups and two more Primeira Liga titles.

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