Pepe – The Ageless Warrior and a Moment of Mistake When His Legs Were Tired

Defender Pepe continued to deliver a stellar performance for Portugal, contributing to the thrilling victory over Slovenia in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024.

The Portuguese national team experienced one of their most emotionally charged matches in the past decade, successfully overcoming Slovenia in a penalty shootout to secure a spot in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.

Alongside goalkeeper Diogo Costa’s brilliance in saving three penalty kicks, another player who left a deep impression on Portuguese fans was none other than center-back Pepe. At 41 years old, Pepe had a memorable match, serving as a solid defensive anchor and a morale booster for his younger teammates as they sought a goal.

During his 117 minutes on the field, the Porto defender posted impressive stats: winning 7 out of 9 aerial duels, making 9 clearances, 3 interceptions, touching the ball 143 times, and achieving an 89% pass accuracy rate.

At his current age, it is hard to believe that Pepe remains the first choice in Portugal’s star-studded defense. It is also remarkable that the former Real Madrid star can maintain peak performance at 41, an age many consider beyond the prime for footballers.

However, his age sometimes shows, especially in sprints. The clearest example was when he could not keep up with the young star Benjamin Sesko in a race in the middle of the second half.

Pepe’s Critical Mistake

In the 115th minute, Pepe made a crucial error, mishandling the ball and giving Sesko of Slovenia a chance to face goalkeeper Costa one-on-one. Fortunately, Sesko’s shot was not dangerous, and Costa’s excellence kept Portugal’s clean sheet intact.

Pepe’s mistake is understandable and forgivable, given that he is 41 and had been tirelessly playing for over 100 minutes, which took a toll on his legs. Throughout the match, Pepe made numerous impressive blocks and interceptions, acting as the defensive leader and providing confidence to his teammates and Portuguese fans.

Returning to the match, Portugal created numerous clear chances during regular time but could not score. In the first half of extra time, the “European Selecao” seemed poised to take the lead when they earned a penalty, but superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could not beat Jan Oblak, sending the match to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

In the shootout, goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved three consecutive Slovenian penalties, while Ronaldo and his teammates did not miss any of their shots, securing a hard-fought ticket to the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, coach Roberto Martinez’s squad will face France, in what is considered an “early final” of Euro 2024.