Following Pepe’s remarkable performance against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, KickOff’s Lukhanyo Mtuta discusses four players who don’t get enough credit for their careers, including the former Real Madrid defender.
Pepe - FC Porto
Aged 41, Pepe put on a stellar performance for FC Porto in the round of 16 of the Champions League, with the veteran leaving his name on many people’s lips. Although his side ended up losing the tie through penalties on the night, the centre-back was arguably Porto's best player, with his defensive masterclass capping a stunning record of becoming the first outfit player over the age of 40 to feature in a UCL match. However, unlike some of his fellow colleagues like Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, and perhaps even Thiago Silva, the Portuguese star is often overlooked when discussing some of the best centre-backs of the modern era. Pepe is third most-capped defender by his country and sits third for most appearances (134) - only trailing Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho. At club level, he boasts 30 titles, including three Champions League trophies with Los Blancos. Given that he is still performing at the highest level and is likely to represent Portugal at the 2024 UEFA European Championship later this year, Pepe certainly does not get the credit he deserves.
