Sadly, all good things come to an end, and the veteran defender has called it a career at 41. It didn’t take long for Ronaldo to react to this news, with the 39-year-old dedicating a heartfelt letter to his former teammate.

“There aren’t enough words to express how much you mean to me, my friend,” Cristiano wrote in Portuguese on Instagram along with many pictures of him and Pepe together. “We won everything there was to win on the field, but the greatest achievement is the friendship and respect I have for you. You are one of a kind, my brother. Thank you for so much.”

With this news, Pepe and Ronaldo’s last dance together came at the UEFA Euro 2024. The defender became the oldest player to compete in a European Championship this summer in Germany, where Portugal lost to France on penalties in the quarterfinals.

How many titles have Ronaldo and Pepe won together?

Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo have won an impressive 15 titles as teammates — 13 for Real Madrid and two with the Portuguese national team. And they forged an unbreakable bond all these years.

The two legends met early in their careers at Sporting CP, where Pepe had a trial while Ronaldo was already part of the club. The center-back didn’t make it through, but their paths were destined to cross again.

The reunion came in 2007, when Pepe earned his first call-up from Portugal. That same year, he joined Real Madrid, where he would strengthen his bond with CR7 when the striker moved to the Santiago Bernabeu two years later.

For how long have Ronaldo and Pepe played together and which titles have they won?

Pepe and Ronaldo spent eight seasons together in the Spanish capital until the former left for Besiktas in 2017. Their club titles together include two LaLigas, three UEFA Champions League trophies, two FIFA Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, two Copas del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups.

With Portugal, Pepe and Ronaldo led the country to its first major title at the UEFA Euro 2016 before helping the team lift the UEFA Nations League in 2019.

His time at Porto, where he became known to the world, and especially at Real Madrid, where he became a legend, consolidated him as one of the best defenders of his generation.

The Leagues and Champions Cup titles, both at club level and with the Portuguese national team, are a testament to his greatness and ability to play under pressure. His legacy transcends sport, as Pepe was always an example of dedication and struggle in every game.

Pepe announced his retirement from soccer

The news of Pepe’s retirement has shocked the world of soccer. The Portuguese center-back, who has left an indelible mark on the beautiful game, has decided to put an end to his professional career. Throughout his career, Pepe has proven to be an exceptional player, both for his technical quality and for his leadership on and off the field.

His ability to motivate his teammates and to impose his law on defense made him one of the most feared defenders in the world. Undoubtedly, his retirement marks the end of an era and leaves a void that is difficult to fill in world football.

Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements: an unbeatable duo

At Real Madrid, they won several Spanish Leagues and Champions League together, making Real Madrid the most winning team in this tournament. Similarly, one of the most emotional moments of their career together was the conquest of Euro 2016. Pepe was fundamental in defense, while Cristiano Ronaldo led the team in attack. Both players were key players in the conquest of the first edition of the UEFA Nations League, a title that consolidated Portugal as one of the strongest teams in Europe.

The partnership between Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team was one of the most successful in modern football. Both players, with their unique characteristics, perfectly complemented their skills and forged a friendship that transcended the pitch.

The reigning Primeira Liga champions got the upper hand, thanks to goals from the Argentine star and Petar Musa. The Lisbon-based outfit hit twice in just seven minutes in the second half.

While it was a perfect night for Di Maria in his first official appearance since returning to Portugal, Pepe had a forgettable game. After seeing the red card in the final minutes, the veteran defender taunted Benfica fans.

Video: Pepe shows Porto shirt to Benfica fans after seeing red card

Pepe saw the red card in stoppage time, taking his shirt off and showing it to Benfica supporters on his way off the field. However, that didn’t prevent the rivals from celebrating another title.

Porto will have a chance to redeem themselves in the Portuguese top-flight, in which Benfica will try to defend their crown. The 2023-24 Primeira Liga gets underway this weekend, so it will be interesting to see how the course of the campaign develops.

Video: Di Maria’s goal for Benfica against Porto

Cristiano Ronaldo and company were knocked out of Qatar 2022 by Morocco, who advanced to their firstWorld Cup semifinals. While Fernando Santos‘ men are devastated due to theresult itself, they’re also frustrated with the officials’decisions.

Veteran center-back Pepe, for instance, was clearly mad at Argentine referee Facundo Tello. In his postgame interview, Pepe blasted the governing body, suggesting it wants Lionel Messi to win the trophy with Argentina.

Pepe blastsFIFA, suggests Argentina are being favored

“It’s inadmissible that an Argentine referee was in charge today after what happened yesterday, with Messi complaining. After what I saw today, they can give the title to Argentina now,” Pepe said, via Relevo.

Those are harsh words from an experienced player, whoknows in what kind of trouble he might be getting into. FIFA will probably not take this lightly, so we have to wait and see how they react to these comments.

With Portugal out, who do you think will reach the grand final?Using this World Cup Predictor, you can see every potential outcome of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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