Portugal Defender Pepe, 41, Announces Retirement

Portugal defender Pepe has officially announced his retirement from professional football, concluding a highly decorated career spanning two decades.

At 41, Pepe made history this summer as the oldest player to participate in a European Championship finals, with his final match being Portugal's penalty shootout loss to France in the quarter-finals. Over his international career, Pepe accumulated 141 caps for the national team, ranking behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho in total appearances.

Pepe's club career included significant stints with Porto, Real Madrid, Besiktas, and Maritimo. During his time at Real Madrid, he made 334 appearances and was instrumental in securing three UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga championships over a decade.

In an emotional 33-minute video posted online, Pepe expressed gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career. He stated, "I can't help but thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work. To all the employees of all the clubs I've been to, who are the soul and essence of the clubs and the national team. And I want to thank everyone in the background. I want to leave a thank-you and a hug of gratitude for all of you."

Pepe's achievements also include becoming the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history last year when he scored for Porto against Antwerp during the group stages.

His career was also marked by a notable disciplinary record, with a high number of red cards. Former Real Madrid and Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute to Pepe, stating there are "no words to express" what Pepe means to him. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Ronaldo added, "We won everything there was to win on the pitch, but the biggest triumph is the friendship and the respect I have for you. You're unique, my brother. Thank you for so much."