After Pepe, a centre-back for Real Madrid and Portugal, announced his retirement, Cristiano Ronaldo spearheaded the tributes to him.

In addition, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos offered their condolences to the football icon, who announced his retirement today afternoon after 23 years of play.

The 41-year-old made his professional debut for Portuguese team Maritimo in 2001. Over the course of a brilliant career, he appeared in 737 club matches and was awarded 141 caps for his country.

The celebrity has three La Liga championships, two Copa del Rey trophies, and three Champions League victories with Real Madrid. In 2016, he experienced the unforgettable taste of triumph as Portugal defeated the host nation, France, in the championship match.

Ronaldo, who together with Pepe launched Real Madrid’s reign of terror in Europe, paid a moving homage to his friend on Twitter.

Together with the Spanish powerhouse, he won 15 major club titles. He also represented Portugal in the 2016 Euros and 2019 Nations League.

The 36-year-old centre back then made his way back to Porto in 2019 to begin a five-year comeback that saw him add two more Portuguese League titles to the two he had won during his initial stint with the team.

After losing badly to France in the quarterfinals of the Euros this summer, he waved a sorrowful farewell to the national team. 

“Friend, words cannot describe how much you mean to me,” he said.

The friendship and respect I have for you is the greatest accomplishment, even if we won all there was to win on the pitch. 

You are special, my sibling. Many thanks for everything.

Over ten years, Pepe and Spaniard Sergio Ramos developed a strong centre-back partnership.

A true warrior, that is what his similarly ferocious Madrid teammate wrote on Instagram. Together, many victories, games, and trophies. 

“Playing with you was a pleasure, brother.” 

“My friend, enjoy this new chapter in your life. I hope the best for you.”

Real, his long-time employer, added their perspective with a lengthy post honouring their club great.

It started, “Real Madrid C. F. wants to show his gratitude, affection, and admiration for one of the great legends of our club and world football in response to Pepe’s announcement about his retirement from football as a professional player.”

Pepe won everything with Real Madrid during his ten years there, from 2007 to 2017. 

He won 14 titles in 334 games over the ten seasons he wore our uniform, including three European Cups, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, three Leagues, two King’s Cups, and two Spanish Super Cups.

In addition, Pepe was a standout player for the Portuguese national team, winning one Nations League and one European Championship with them.

Furthermore, it has a place in FC Porto’s history, where he has won one league cup, four leagues, five cups, four Portuguese Super Cups, and one Intercontinental Cup.

Pepe will always be remembered and loved by all Real Madrid supporters as one of the finest defenders in both Real Madrid history and European football. Real Madrid hopes for the best for him in this new chapter of his life, as does his entire family.

Diogo Dalot, a defender for Manchester United and colleague from Portugal, showed his affection for the icon by posting a simple love heart.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who was on loan at Real Madrid in 2011 and played 14 games with Pepe, meantime, tweeted, “Congratulations on a beautiful career bro.”

“Leyenda (Legend),” added Luka Modric, a player for Real Madrid.

Pepe paid a hefty €30 million to go from Porto to Real Madrid in 2007, but he seemed unaffected by the expense.



In addition, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos offered their condolences to the football icon, who announced his retirement today afternoon after 23 years of play.

The 41-year-old made his professional debut for Portuguese team Maritimo in 2001. Over the course of a brilliant career, he appeared in 737 club matches and was awarded 141 caps for his country.

The celebrity has three La Liga championships, two Copa del Rey trophies, and three Champions League victories with Real Madrid. In 2016, he experienced the unforgettable taste of triumph as Portugal defeated the host nation, France, in the championship match.

Ronaldo, who together with Pepe launched Real Madrid’s reign of terror in Europe, paid a moving homage to his friend on Twitter.

Together with the Spanish powerhouse, he won 15 major club titles. He also represented Portugal in the 2016 Euros and 2019 Nations League.

The 36-year-old centre back then made his way back to Porto in 2019 to begin a five-year comeback that saw him add two more Portuguese League titles to the two he had won during his initial stint with the team.

After losing badly to France in the quarterfinals of the Euros this summer, he waved a sorrowful farewell to the national team. 

“Friend, words cannot describe how much you mean to me,” he said.

The friendship and respect I have for you is the greatest accomplishment, even if we won all there was to win on the pitch. 

You are special, my sibling. Many thanks for everything.

Over ten years, Pepe and Spaniard Sergio Ramos developed a strong centre-back partnership.

A true warrior, that is what his similarly ferocious Madrid teammate wrote on Instagram. Together, many victories, games, and trophies. 

“Playing with you was a pleasure, brother.” 

“My friend, enjoy this new chapter in your life. I hope the best for you.”

Real, his long-time employer, added their perspective with a lengthy post honouring their club great.

It started, “Real Madrid C. F. wants to show his gratitude, affection, and admiration for one of the great legends of our club and world football in response to Pepe’s announcement about his retirement from football as a professional player.”

Pepe won everything with Real Madrid during his ten years there, from 2007 to 2017. 

He won 14 titles in 334 games over the ten seasons he wore our uniform, including three European Cups, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, three Leagues, two King’s Cups, and two Spanish Super Cups.

In addition, Pepe was a standout player for the Portuguese national team, winning one Nations League and one European Championship with them.

Furthermore, it has a place in FC Porto’s history, where he has won one league cup, four leagues, five cups, four Portuguese Super Cups, and one Intercontinental Cup.

Pepe will always be remembered and loved by all Real Madrid supporters as one of the finest defenders in both Real Madrid history and European football. Real Madrid hopes for the best for him in this new chapter of his life, as does his entire family.

Diogo Dalot, a defender for Manchester United and colleague from Portugal, showed his affection for the icon by posting a simple love heart.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who was on loan at Real Madrid in 2011 and played 14 games with Pepe, meantime, tweeted, “Congratulations on a beautiful career bro.”

“Leyenda (Legend),” added Luka Modric, a player for Real Madrid.

Pepe paid a hefty €30 million to go from Porto to Real Madrid in 2007, but he seemed unaffected by the expense.