Former Manchester United stars Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo reacted to the news that Real Madrid and Portugal legend Pepe had retired from football.
Pepe enjoyed incredible success during his playing career at club level, including lifting three Champions League titles and three La Liga trophies at Real Madrid.
The 41-year-old Portuguese former defender was already at Los Blancos ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United and signing for Madrid in 2009.
Pepe, who Madrid signed from Porto in 2007, made 334 appearances for the La Liga club before he left the Spanish capital in 2017 and signed for Besiktas.
The Madrid legend, who also lifted two Copa del Reys with Los Blancos, briefly played for Besiktas before making his return to Porto for a second spell.
Pepe captured two Primeira Liga titles in his first spell with Porto before adding a further two league trophies to his silverware cabinet in his second spell.
Ferdinand and Ronaldo on Pepe
Despite being 41 years old, Pepe had once again linked up with former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to represent Portugal at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Pepe, who played a whopping 141 times for Portugal in his prolific career, featured in four of his country’s five matches at this summer’s Euros.
However, Portugal fell short of the Henri Delaunay trophy and were knocked out of the competition at the hands of France in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Pepe secured silverware during his longstanding career with Portugal, with the former Madrid star lifting the Nations League and Euro 2016 titles.
Ronaldo took to Instagram and paid a heartfelt tribute to his former Portugal and Madrid teammate after Pepe announced his retirement from football.
“No words to express how much you mean to me my friend,” he wrote.
“We won everything there was to win on the field, but the biggest achievement is the friendship and respect I have for you. You are unique my brother.”
“Thank you for so much.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand also took to Instagram and left a personal message on Pepe’s retirement post.
“Legend,” he wrote, adding a heart emoji.
Pepe confirms retirement
Pepe on Thursday confirmed that he would call it time on an illustrious playing career, marking the end of his second spell with Porto and his time with Portugal.
“I can’t help but thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work,” he said.
“To all the employees of all the clubs I’ve been to, who are the soul and essence of the clubs and the national team.
“And I want to thank everyone in the background. I want to leave a thank you and a hug of gratitude for all of you.”
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