Portuguese defender Pepe retires from football at age 41

​​​​​​​By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

Portuguese defender Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira, known as Pepe, retired Thursday from professional football at the age of 41.

"I would like to thank you all," said the veteran center back in a video published on social media."Everyone gave me the support I needed to leave with my mind at ease."

After leaving Portuguese club Maritimo, he joined Porto in 2004 and won three league titles and the 2016 Portuguese Cup.

Then he moved in 2007 to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, where is secured three UEFA Champions League, three Spanish LaLiga, two FIFA Club World Cup and two Spanish Cup trophies.

In recent years, he played for Besiktas in Türkiye between 2017 and 2018, before he returned to Porto to win two more league and four more Portuguese Cup titles.

With eight goals in 141 appearances for Portugal, Pepe helped his national team scoop up the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League trophies.​​​​​​​