Pepe Becomes Euro Championship Oldest Player
Portuguese defender Pepe set a new record for veteran players in the final stages of the Euro Championship on Tuesday, playing against the Czech Republic in Germany 2024 at 41 years and 113 days old. This surpasses the previous record held by Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, who played at 40 years and 86 days old in the 2016 edition.
Since his debut in this tournament on June 7, 2008, against Turkey, where he also scored a goal, Pepe has been a mainstay in Portugal’s lineup. Under coach Roberto Martínez, he continues to be a key player, amassing 20 appearances and scoring two goals over a span of 16 years in the competition.
Following Pepe and Kiraly in the age rankings is Cristiano Ronaldo, who played at 39 years and 134 days in the same match in Leipzig. Other notable veteran players include Germany’s Lothar Matthäus, who played until 39 years and 91 days old in 2000, and England’s Peter Shilton, who competed until he was 38 years and 271 days old in 1988.
Pepe’s Background
Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira (born 26 February 1983), known as Pepe (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈpɛpi]), is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Porto, which he captains, and the Portugal national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs of his generation.
During his professional career, Pepe has played for Marítimo, Porto, Real Madrid, and Beşiktaş, with most individual and team success in the middle two clubs. With Real Madrid, he played 334 games, winning three La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League titles and two Copa del Rey titles. He has also won four Primeira Liga titles and three Taça de Portugal titles with Porto.
Born and raised in Brazil, Pepe opted to play for Portugal, and has earned 137 caps since his debut in 2007. He played at four FIFA World Cups, five UEFA European Championships, and was part of the team that won Euro 2016, being named player of the match in the final.
