Pepe has been Portugal’s underrated rock at the back for two decades – and he is set to become the Euros’ oldest ever player in Germany after a career of incredible highs and ample controversy
When Portugal take to Leipzig to face the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 opener, they could field the two oldest players in the competition.
Up one end of the field will be Cristiano Ronaldo, 39 – the all-time leading scorer in international matches with an unquenchable appetite for goals and records. At the other end – there’s the 41-year-old defensive general Kepler Laveram de Lima Ferreira, or Pepe as many would know him.
The Brazilian-born centre-back already has 137 caps to his name and could make history when he appears in his fifth European Championship, one short of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo. Should manager Roberto Martinez select him for any of Portugal’s three group games, Pepe will become the oldest player ever to play at the Euros.
That record currently belongs to Hungarian Gabor Kiraly, who played aged 40 and 86 days old against Belgium in 2016. But it is unlikely to be held for much longer if Pepe’s inclusion in the 3-0 friendly win over Ireland earlier this week was anything to go by.
Plenty of attention was awarded to the veteran’s incredible longevity during last season’s Champions League campaign, thanks to his stellar displays against Arsenal in the last-16 of the competition. Over the two legs, he became the oldest player in Champions League knockout history.
To put just how much mileage has been covered in those gangly legs into perspective, Pepe’s Champions League debut for Porto in 2004 came before Englishman Kobbie Mainoo’s birth. He signed for Real Madrid in July 2007, the same month in which Spain’s new hope Lamine Yamal was born.
But for all the praise regarding Pepe’s longevity, having made 38 appearances last season and won the Portuguese Cup, he is still perceived by many as merely a destroyer and a s***house.
That is largely down to a handful of high profile incidents over his 20 years playing in Europe. In 2009, he “lost control” after conceding a penalty to Getafe, twice kicking his opponent whom he had just pushed to the ground and raking his studs over Francisco Casquero’s back in a moment of shocking head-loss.
He later described it as the worst day of his life as a player and a person, and was banned for 10 matches. He lived up to his cut-throat reputation by going on to stamp on Lionel Messi’s hand in 2012, being sent off for a high tackle on Dani Alves in another El Clasico, and headbutting Thomas Muller on the World Cup stage in 2014, where his sending off resulted in a 4-0 group stage defeat.
He has a tally of 17 career red cards, less than one a season, and 212 yellows. For context, his long-time Real Madrid defensive partner Sergio Ramos has picked up an impressive 29 red cards.
While it’s fair to label him a connoisseur of the dark arts, his actual ability as a defender has gone somewhat unnoticed courtesy of his transgressions and longevity. Returning to Porto in 2019 as a three-time Champions League winner, Pepe’s excellent reading of the game, pace, aggression and tackling made him a crucial cog in two Primeira Liga-winning sides.
Even more astonishing is Pepe’s record for Portugal in big tournaments. He has been selected for the Team of the Tournament at three separate Euros – 2008, 2012 and 2016. We’re talking about one of the greatest players in the competition’s history.
The latter was the most pivotal, defending resolutely throughout the tournament and delivering a Man of the Match display as Portugal beat France on their own turf to lift the Euros. And they will need him at his very best again in Germany.
Commenting on his influence ahead of the Euros, head coach Martinez said: “Pepe’s role in the dressing room is important, the way he represents the national team shirt. I think that during the training camp, football is a constant struggle.
“And it was interesting to see Pepe play two games in March and keep a clean sheet for the 90 minutes he played. His communication, his positioning mean that, when he’s fit, he’s a very important player.”
His fate after the tournament remains unclear, with his Porto contract expiring this month. But a clear indication of his worth is Porto’s new manager announcing that the decision to return rests with Pepe himself, stating that the legendary defender will listen to his body in Germany before making a call with regards to his future.