Real Madrid cult hero Pepe announces retirement at 41

On Thursday, Portuguese defender Pepe announced his retirement from professional football. The former Porto, Real Madrid and Besiktas centre-back has taken the decision at the age of 41, and like former teammate Toni Kroos, his last action in the game was at Euro 2024 earlier in the summer.

It was at Real Madrid that Pepe spent his best years. He was at Los Blancos from 2007 to 2017, and during that time, he won 13 major honours: three La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues, two Copa del Reys, two Club World Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and one UEFA Super Cup. He announced his decision to retire across his social media platforms, which included a 33-minute video posted to YouTube.

Real Madrid supporters have very fond memories of Pepe, and during his 10-year spell at the club, he became a cult hero. A tribute from Los Blancos should come in the next few hours, likely through their own social media channels.