Pepe became the oldest outfield player to play in the Champions League

Portuguese centre-back Pepe became the oldest outfield player to be used in the Champions League this Wednesday when he was used during Porto’s visit to Antwerp.

Having not played since the 3-1 triumph over Shakhtar Donetsk in the second round of Group H of the Champions League, the Portuguese has recovered and returned to Sérgio Conceição’s options.

In Antwerp, Pepe, who made his 115th Champions League appearance, became the oldest outfield player to play for the Champions at 40 years, seven months and 29 days.

Pepe overtook former Italian defender Alessandro Costacurta, who was the oldest outfield player previously used at 40 years, six months and 28 days at Milan.

The centre-back became the sixth-youngest player in the Champions League, surpassed by only five goalkeepers, one of whom has yet to be surpassed this season – Scot Allan McGregor was used by Rangers at the age of 40 years, nine months and one day.

The table of oldest outfield players in the Champions League is topped by two Italians – Marco Ballota, who played for Lazio at the age of 43 years, eight months and eight days, and Gianluigi Buffon, who played for Juventus at the age of 43. 42, 10 months and 10 days.

Next in this hierarchy are Ukrainian Alexander Shovkovsky (Dynamo Kiev), aged 41 years, eight months and 11 days, and Australian Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea), aged 41 years, six months and 24 days.

During his career, Pepe, born in Maceio, Brazil on February 26, 1983, appeared in 115 Champions matches, more than half of which were for Real Madrid (71), six for Besiktas and 37 for Besiktas. . “dragons”.

Together with the merengue, Pepe won, among other international trophies, three Champions Leagues: in the 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons.

Pepe is also the oldest player to play for the Portuguese national team, with whom he became European champion in 2016.