Born in Maceió (AL), defender Pepe went to play in Portugal when he was 17. At 24, in 2007, he became a Portuguese citizen and, that same year, was called for the first time for the Portuguese national team by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. That was the beginning of his winning trajectory in his new nation.
Fifteen years later, he competes in his fourth World Cup, in Qatar, when he enters soccer history by becoming the oldest player to score in a knockout match of the competition. At 39 years and 283 days, he surpassed Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 38 years and 34 days old when he scored both goals in a 2-1 extra-time victory over Colombia to qualify for the quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
“I am privileged to be able to play soccer, I feel happy to wake up and do what I love most every day. It will only mean a lot to me if we reach the final and win the title,” said the defender after the 6-1 victory over Switzerland that secured his place in the quarter-finals. He scored the second goal with his head.
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