Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) President Fernando Gomes thanked Pepe on Thursday for his 17 years of service to the national team as “one of the greatest central defenders in the history of Portuguese, European and world football.”
“After finishing his football career, Pepe left us a legacy of professionalism, dedication and, above all, a great passion for football and the national team,” said Fernando Gomes on the day the player announced his retirement at the age of 41.
In a statement published on the FPF website, the federation’s leader recalls Pepe, a Brazilian native, “an extraordinary sense of passion for the national team and for Portugal, a country that welcomed him and knew how to give him football expression.”
The defender bids farewell to the Portuguese national team with 141 appearances and eight goals, becoming the third-highest scorer in the history of the Quinas teams, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo (212) and Joao Moutinho (146).
“Pepe is an example of extraordinary professionalism. I remember well how he participated in the final of Euro 2016, or how he played with a broken arm in the match against Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar, and how he performed at 41 years old with the same passion, dedication and commitment at Euro 2024,” he noted.
Pepe’s final game of his career took place on July 5 in Hamburg, Germany, in Portugal’s defeat of France (0-0 at the end of extra time, 5-3 on penalties), in the quarter-finals of the European Championship. Euro 2024.
Pepe, who has appeared in nine finals between the World Cup and European Championship, has left his boots on more than 30 titles won during his career, including a European Championship with his national team in 2016 and three Champions Leagues, all with Real Madrid.
In addition to the historical emblem of Spain, the defender defended the colors of Porto, his last club Maritimo, and Besiktas.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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