Pepe (footballer, born 1983) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the footballer born in February 1983. For the footballer born in the same year, see Pepe (footballer, born October 1983). For other people named Pepe, see Pepe.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is de Lima and the second or paternal family name is Ferreira.

Quick facts for kids
Pepe

Pepe with Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Personal information

Date of birth

26 February 1983 (age 42)

Place of birth

Maceió, Brazil

Height

1.88 m

Playing position

Centre-back

Youth career

1995–2001

Corinthians Alagoano

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2001–2002

Marítimo B

(1)

2002–2004

Marítimo

(3)

2004–2007

Porto

(6)

2007–2017

Real Madrid

290

(13)

2017–2018

Beşiktaş

(5)

2019–2024

Porto

132

(7)

Total

535

(35)

National team

2007–2024

Portugal

141

(8)

Honours

FIFA Confederations Cup

Men's football
Representing Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Winner	2016 France
Bronze	2012 Poland–Ukraine
UEFA Nations League
Winner	2019 Portugal
Third	2017 Russia

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira (born 26 February 1983), known as Pepe, is a Brazilian-Portuguese former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back, which is a defensive position. Many people think he is one of the best defenders of his time. They also believe he is the greatest Portuguese defender ever.

Pepe was born and grew up in Brazil. He moved to Portugal to play for Marítimo. Later, in 2004, he joined Porto. During his first time at Porto, he won two Primeira Liga titles. He also won two Portuguese Cups and the Intercontinental Cup.

Three years later, he moved to Real Madrid. He became a very important player for the club. He won fifteen major trophies there. These included three La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League titles. He played a key role in all three Champions League wins. After his contract ended, Pepe joined Turkish club Beşiktaş in 2017. He then returned to Porto in 2019. In his last time with Porto, he won two more league titles. He also won four Portuguese Cups and a Taça da Liga.

Pepe chose to play for the Portugal national team. He played in four FIFA World Cups and five UEFA European Championships. He helped Portugal win the UEFA Euro 2016 title in France. He was even named the best player in the final match. He was also chosen for the UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament in 2008, 2012, and 2016. In 2019, he won the first-ever UEFA Nations League title. Pepe played 141 games for Portugal between 2007 and 2024.

Pepe's Club Career Journey
Pepe's International Career
Pepe's Playing Style
Pepe's Personal Life
Career Statistics
- Club
- International
Pepe's Football Honours
See also

Pepe's Club Career Journey

Starting at Marítimo

Pepe was born in Maceió, Brazil. His father named him Kepler Laveran after famous scientists. He started playing football with a local team called Corinthians Alagoano. When he was 18, he moved to Portugal. He joined Marítimo in Madeira. For most of his first season, he played for their B-team.

In the 2002–03 season, he joined the main team. He played in many matches and different positions. He even played as a defensive midfielder. Before the 2002–03 season, Pepe trained with Sporting CP. But the clubs could not agree on a deal. So, he went back to Marítimo. He helped them finish sixth in the next season. This allowed them to play in the UEFA Cup. He scored 1 goal in 30 matches that season.

Joining FC Porto

Pepe playing for Porto in 2006

In May 2004, Pepe signed with Porto. This was just before Porto won the league and the UEFA Champions League. In his first season, he was mostly a backup player. He played behind more experienced defenders.

But in the next year, he became a key player. His coach often used an attacking system. Pepe was often the main defender. Porto won two league titles in a row. They also won the Portuguese Cup.

Time at Real Madrid

Becoming a Star (2007–2011)

On 10 July 2007, Real Madrid signed Pepe. They paid Porto €30 million for him. He signed a five-year contract. On 15 March 2008, he scored an own goal in a game against Deportivo La Coruña. Real Madrid lost that game 0–1. Later that year, he had a small disagreement with a teammate during practice.

Real Madrid won La Liga that season. Pepe played a great game in a 1–0 win against Barcelona. In the 2008–09 season, Pepe had many injuries. He also had an incident with a Getafe player. He received a ten-match ban, which ended his season.

Pepe chasing down Sergio Agüero of Atlético Madrid in 2010

In the 2009–10 season, Pepe got his starting spot back. On 4 October 2009, he scored his first league goal. It was against Sevilla. He headed in a Guti free-kick. But in December, he injured his right knee. This meant he missed the rest of the season. It also put his chances for the 2010 FIFA World Cup at risk.

For 2010–11, Pepe played with fellow Portuguese player Ricardo Carvalho. They formed a strong defense. Pepe missed some games due to injury. After long talks, he signed a new contract until 2015. Towards the end of the season, he played as a defensive midfielder. Real Madrid played Barcelona four times in a short period. In a Champions League semi-final, he was sent off. This caused some debate.

Winning Trophies (2011–2017)

On 12 July 2011, Pepe extended his contract with Real Madrid again. It was until the 2015–16 season. On 6 November, he scored in a 7–1 win against Osasuna. In a Copa del Rey game against Barcelona, he stepped on Lionel Messi's hand. He said it was an accident. The Spanish Football Federation cleared him of any wrongdoing.

In the 2011–12 season, Pepe and Sergio Ramos formed a strong defense. He played in 29 league games. He played 45 games in total. Real Madrid won their 32nd league title that season. In the 2012–13 season, Pepe lost his starting spot to Raphaël Varane. This was partly due to disagreements with his coach.

Pepe warming up for Real Madrid in 2016

In the 2013–14 season, Pepe scored more goals than ever before. He also played in more games. He played 11 games in their Champions League winning season. The coach said Pepe gave the team confidence. In the 2015–16 season, Pepe played in nine Champions League games. He played 31 games in total. He started in the Champions League final against Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid won after a penalty shootout.

In his last year at Real Madrid, Pepe had injuries. He played 13 games. Madrid won their 33rd La Liga title. They also won their twelfth UEFA Champions League title. They beat Juventus in the final.

Playing for Beşiktaş

On 4 July 2017, Pepe joined Turkish club Beşiktaş. He signed a free transfer from Real Madrid. On 13 August, he scored his first goal for them. It was in a 2–0 win against Antalyaspor.

On 19 April 2018, he received his first red card for Beşiktaş. This was during a Turkish Cup game. Pepe left Beşiktaş on 17 December 2018.

Returning to Porto

Pepe playing for Porto in 2019

On 8 January 2019, Pepe returned to Porto. He signed a 2.5-year contract. A week later, he played his first game for Porto since 2007. Porto finished second in the league that season. They lost the cup final on penalties. But they won both tournaments in 2019–20.

Pepe became the team captain on 12 October 2020. He extended his contract until 2023. On 25 October 2023, Pepe made history. At 40 years and 241 days old, he became the oldest outfield player to play in the UEFA Champions League. He broke a record that stood for 17 years. On 7 November, he scored a goal against Royal Antwerp. This made him the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history. He was 40 years and 254 days old. On 13 December, he scored again. He was 40 years and 289 days old.

On 12 March 2024, at 41 years old, Pepe made another record. He became the first outfield player over 40 to play in the Champions League knockout stage.

Pepe's International Career

Playing for Portugal (2008–2014)

Pepe (number 3) with Portugal during a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Denmark in 2008

Pepe never played for his birth country, Brazil, as a youth. In 2006, Brazil's coach asked him to join. But Pepe said no. He wanted to play for Portugal once he became a citizen. He became a Portuguese citizen in August 2007. On 30 August, he was called up to the Portugal squad. His first game for Portugal was on 21 November. It was a 0–0 draw against Finland.

In the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament, Pepe played in all of Portugal's games. He scored one goal in a 2–0 win against Turkey. Portugal was knocked out by Germany. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying games, Pepe often played as a defensive midfielder. Despite a serious knee injury, he was chosen for the World Cup in South Africa. He played against Brazil and Spain.

Pepe training with Portugal at Euro 2012

Pepe was a starter in UEFA Euro 2012. He scored the first goal against Denmark. He headed the ball in from a João Moutinho corner kick. Portugal won 3–2. He was named man of the match. In the semi-final, Portugal lost to Spain in a penalty shootout.

In the 2014 World Cup, Pepe received a red card. It was in Portugal's first game against Germany. He was suspended for the next match.

European Champion and Nations League Winner (2016–2019)

Pepe played in six of Portugal's seven matches at UEFA Euro 2016. He missed the semi-final due to injury. But he returned for the final. He was named man of the match. He helped his team keep a clean sheet. Portugal won 1–0 against France in extra time. This was Portugal's first international title.

Pepe celebrates after scoring a late equaliser against Mexico at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Moscow

On 2 July 2017, Pepe scored a late goal against Mexico. This sent the game into extra time. Portugal won 2–1 and got the bronze medal.

In Portugal's first game at the 2018 World Cup, Pepe was involved in a play that led to a goal for Spain. He also scored in Portugal's 2–1 loss to Uruguay in the last 16.

On 6 September 2018, Pepe played his 100th game for Portugal. It was a friendly match against Croatia. He was the captain and scored a goal. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.

Pepe was part of Portugal's team that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019. He was captain in some games. He played in the semi-final. He fractured his shoulder in that game. So, he missed the final, which Portugal won 1–0.

Final International Tournaments and Retirement (2020–2024)

At 38 years old, Pepe was the oldest outfield player at UEFA Euro 2020 in June 2021. On 11 November that year, he was sent off in a World Cup qualifying game.

In October 2022, he was chosen for Portugal's 2022 FIFA World Cup squad in Qatar. He scored Portugal's second goal in a 6–1 win against Switzerland. At 39 years and 283 days old, he became the oldest player to score in the knockout stage of the World Cup. He was also the second-oldest player to score in the tournament's history.

In May 2024, Pepe was selected for the UEFA Euro 2024 squad. On 18 June, he became the oldest player to play in the UEFA European Championship. He was 41 years and 113 days old. He also became one of only three players to play in five European Championships. Portugal lost to France in the quarter-finals. This was Pepe's last professional football game.

Pepe's Playing Style

Pepe is known as a fast, strong, and tough defender. He works hard and tackles strongly. Because he is tall, he is also good at heading the ball during set-pieces. He usually plays as a centre-back. But he has also played as a defensive midfielder for his country. Even though he is a great defender, he has sometimes been criticized. This is because he has received many cards for aggressive or unsportsmanlike actions.

Pepe's Personal Life

Pepe is married to Ana Sofia Moreira. They met in Porto in 2007. They have two daughters together.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Marítimo	2001–02	Primeira Liga	4	0	0	0	—		—		—		4	0
	2002–03		29	2	0	0	—		—		—		29	2
	2003–04		30	1	1	0	—		—		—		31	1
	Total		63	3	1	0	—		—		—		64	3
Porto	2004–05	Primeira Liga	15	1	1	0	—		5	0	1	0	22	1
	2005–06		24	1	4	0	—		5	2	—		33	3
	2006–07		25	4	0	0	—		8	0	1	0	34	4
	Total		64	6	5	0	—		18	2	2	0	89	8
Real Madrid	2007–08	La Liga	19	0	1	0	—		3	0	2	0	25	0
	2008–09		26	0	0	0	—		5	0	1	0	32	0
	2009–10		10	1	1	0	—		6	0	—		17	1
	2010–11		26	1	4	0	—		8	0	—		38	1
	2011–12		29	1	5	0	—		9	0	2	0	45	1
	2012–13		28	1	2	0	—		11	1	1	0	42	2
	2013–14		30	4	7	1	—		11	0	—		48	5
	2014–15		27	2	1	0	—		6	0	4	0	38	2
	2015–16		21	1	1	0	—		9	0	—		31	1
	2016–17		13	2	2	0	—		3	0	0	0	18	2
	Total		229	13	24	1	—		71	1	10	0	334	15
Beşiktaş	2017–18	Süper Lig	23	2	5	0	—		6	0	1	0	35	2
	2018–19	Süper Lig	10	3	0	0	—		7	2	—		17	5
	Total		33	5	5	0	—		13	2	1	0	52	7
Porto	2018–19	Primeira Liga	13	2	3	0	2	0	3	0	—		21	2
	2019–20		25	1	2	0	1	0	9	0	—		37	1
	2020–21		27	2	4	0	2	0	6	0	1	0	40	2
	2021–22		21	1	3	0	0	0	9	0	—		33	1
	2022–23		24	0	5	0	2	0	4	0	1	0	36	0
	2023–24		22	1	4	0	0	0	7	2	1	0	34	3
	Total		132	7	21	0	7	0	38	2	3	0	201	9
Career total			521	34	56	1	7	0	140	7	16	0	742	42

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Portugal	2007	1	0
	2008	12	1
	2009	11	1
	2010	6	0
	2011	7	0
	2012	12	1
	2013	8	0
	2014	8	0
	2015	3	0
	2016	13	1
	2017	11	1
	2018	11	2
	2019	5	0
	2020	5	0
	2021	10	0
	2022	10	1
	2023	1	0
	2024	7	0
Total		141	8

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Pepe
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	7 June 2008	Stade de Genève, Geneve, Switzerland	Turkey	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2008
2	9 September 2009	Stadium Puskás Ferenc, Budapest, Hungary	Hungary	1–0	1–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	13 June 2012	Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine	Denmark	1–0	3–2	UEFA Euro 2012
4	1 September 2016	Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal	Gibraltar	5–0	5–0	Friendly
5	2 July 2017	Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow, Russia	Mexico	1–1	2–1 (aet)	2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
6	30 June 2018	Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia	Uruguay	1–1	1–2	2018 FIFA World Cup
7	6 September 2018	Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal	Croatia	1–1	1–1	Friendly
8	6 December 2022	Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail, Qatar	Switzerland	2–0	6–1	2022 FIFA World Cup