&sq=&lang=&file=File:Pepe_2018.jpg) Pepe with Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kepler Laverán de Lima Ferreira[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 26 February 1983[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Maceió, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–2001 | Corinthians Alagoano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Marítimo B | 14 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Marítimo | 63 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | Porto | 64 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2017 | Real Madrid | 290 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Beşiktaş | 33 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2024 | Porto | 132 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 535 | (35) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2024 | Portugal | 141 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira ComM (born 26 February 1983), known as Pepe (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈpɛpi], European Portuguese: [ˈpɛpɨ]), is a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs of all time.[3]
Born and raised in Brazil, Pepe moved to Portugal to sign with Marítimo, before moving to Porto in 2004. During his first Porto stint, he won two Primeira Liga titles, two Taças de Portugal and the Intercontinental Cup. Three years later, he moved to Real Madrid and went on to become a mainstay for the club, winning fifteen major honours, including three La Liga titles, two FIFA Club World Cup titles, two Copa del Rey titles and three UEFA Champions League titles, playing a crucial part in all three UEFA Champions League wins.[4] Out of contract, Pepe signed with Turkish club Beşiktaş in 2017, before returning to Porto in 2019. In his final stint with the Dragões, he won a further two league titles, four Taças de Portugal and a Taça da Liga.
Internationally, Pepe opted to play for Portugal, representing the nation at four FIFA World Cups and five UEFA European Championships. He won the UEFA Euro 2016 title in France, being named player of the match in the final, and was named to the UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He also won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019. Between his debut in 2007 and 2024, Pepe earned 141 caps.
- ^ a b "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of players: Portugal" (PDF). FIFA. 20 March 2018. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: List of Players: Portugal" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^
- "Pepe named as world's best defender of 2016". Goal.com. 10 November 2016.
- "7 Best Centre-Backs of the Decade". HITC. 26 December 2019.
- "Pepe: The Most Underrated Defender Of All Time?".
- ^ Lowe, Sid (7 June 2017). "Pepe leaves Real Madrid a touch bitter but with inner Hannibal Lecter tamed". The Guardian.