Portuguese defender Pepe has officially announced his retirement from professional football through a 33-minute video shared on his social media platforms.

Over his impressive 23-year career at the elite level, the former Real Madrid and FC Porto player secured an astonishing 34 trophies.

His last match was with the national team, where they faced France in the European Championship quarter-finals and were eliminated on penalties.

The 41-year-old centre-back revealed his decision in a video titled ‘Obrigado’ – meaning ‘Thank you’ in Portuguese. Pepe participated in 878 matches across five clubs throughout his career, culminating in a remarkable trophy haul.

Following the announcement, his esteemed former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his sentiments on Instagram, stating, “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 widely recognized as the steadfast center-back for Real Madrid, where he dedicated ten years of his career and secured nearly every team honor possible. Among his most cherished achievements are three Champions League titles and three La Liga championships, along with the memorable victory of Portugal in the Euro 2016 final.

Don’t miss out! Get your daily dose of Entertainment news and more straight to your phone. Join Ghana Street Journal Whatsapp channel now!