Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has paid a heartfelt tribute to his longtime teammate Pepe, who announced his retirement from football on Thursday.
Pepe, who is retiring at the age of 41, played his final match at Euro 2024, where Portugal was eliminated by France in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout. His appearance at the tournament made him the oldest player to compete in a European Championship.
Over his illustrious career, Pepe earned 141 caps for Portugal, ranking behind only Ronaldo (211) and João Moutinho (146) in appearances.
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“There are not enough words to express how much you mean to me, friend,” Ronaldo wrote on X. “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 also spent a decade at Real Madrid, eight of those years alongside Ronaldo. Together, they won three LaLiga titles, three Champions League trophies, and two FIFA Club World Cups.