VIDEO | When Pepe Called Messi Crazy and Stomped on Him
The Madrid fans say goodbye to Pepe, remembering several moments with the white team.
A sad day for international football. Legendary defender Pepe, who played for Real Madrid and Porto, has announced his retirement from the game after competing in Euro 2024 with Portugal. They were knocked out by France in a goalless match that went to penalties.
Real Madrid fans bid farewell to the defender with an emotional yet controversial video showcasing some of his key moments defending the Madrid crest. The video includes one of his most infamous acts of "revenge," where he steps on Lionel Messi's hand during a classic match against Barcelona.
In that notorious encounter, Pepe sought his own form of retribution after Messi kicked the ball into the Madrid stands. Pepe calls Messi crazy by tapping his forehead and confronting him. Later, as Messi lies on the ground, Pepe sneaks up and steps on his hand.
The video doesn’t just feature that incident; it also highlights several other moments where Pepe showed his strength defending his Real Madrid teammates. Another memorable tackle shown is against Dani Alves, following Alves' kick at Cristiano Ronaldo while he was on the ground.
Undoubtedly, Pepe will be remembered as a great defender and one of the more aggressive players in football, without overlooking his footballing skills and all the professional achievements he earned, including a European Championship and Champions League titles.
