Cristiano Ronaldo shows character with heartfelt message on Instagram

Cristiano Ronaldo paid a heartfelt tribute to his former team-mate Pepe after the defender decided to retire soccer.

Pepe has seen fit to end his glittering playing career at the age of 41 after 22 remarkable years on the pitch. The former Real Madrid player recorded a 30 minute video to tell him his decision and say goodbye.

The video was filled with highlights from his career, most of which were spent with Ronaldo. The duo enjoyed eight successful years playing together in Madrid, where they won a host of heady trophies, and also spent 17 years as teammates in the Portuguese national team, where they won the European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019.

Take to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a series of images of the duo along with the impressive number of trophies they have won together during their careers. He then captioned it all: “There are no words to express how much you mean to me, dear friend. We have won everything on the pitch, but the greatest achievement is the friendship and respect I have for you. You are unique, my brother. Thank you for everything.”

In the video, which was called “Obrigado” (Thank you), Pepe spoke about the people who helped him in his career. He paid tribute to the “essential” role of his mother who “allowed him to fly towards his dream of becoming a professional footballer” and also thanked his family, fans, teammates and club presidents who “bet” on him.

Ronaldo isn't the only big name in the football world to pay tribute to the no-nonsense centre-back. Bayer Leverkusen coach and former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso commented on Pepe's own farewell message calling him “The best” as the former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand in simple terms, “Legend”.

Born in Brazil and arriving in Portugal at the age of 18, Pepe has made 894 appearances in his career, the last of which came at Euro 2024 in Germany. One of the most decorated defenders in recent years, Pepe has won 31 trophies in his career, including three Champions Leagues, won with Real Madrid.

After spells at Maritimo and Sporting Lisbon, Pepe joined Porto where he won two league titles and the Portuguese Cup. But in 2007, he joined Real Madrid for 30 million euros. It was at this Spanish club that Pepe won two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, three La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and two Spanish Super Cups, in addition to his three European Cup medals.

Pepe left Madrid to join Turkish club Besiktas for a season before returning to Porto. The defender, often known for his tough and confrontational style, has been capped 141 times for Portugal, a number that puts him third in terms of appearances for the national team, behind Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho.

Commenting on his excellent service, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernando Gomes, said: “At the end of his football career, Pepe leaves us an example of professionalism, dedication and, above all, an immense passion for football and the national team.”