Cristiano Ronaldo paid homage to his former teammate Pepe as he announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 41. A legendary Portuguese defender, he is retiring after a distinguished 23-year-long career marked by major successes with Porto, Real Madrid, and the Portugal national team.
Pepe has won three La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies across 334 games for Real Madrid. He played a central role in securing Portugal’s 2016 European Championship victory, along with the team’s 2019 UEFA Nations League win. His importance extended into his twilight years; he was more than integral to the role of Portugal in their run to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.
Ronaldo, who shared most of those conquests with Pepe during their time together at Real Madrid and in the national team, paid an emotional tribute to his long-time friend on Instagram. Alongside a picture of the two, Ronaldo wrote: “No words to express how much you mean to me, my friend. Conquered everything possible in the football field, but the biggest win is the friendship and respect that I have for you. You’re unique, brother. Thank you for everything.”
As Ronaldo, now 39, is still representing Portugal and Al Nassr, the retirement of Pepe closes a chapter in the history of the Portuguese national team.
