Pepe becomes oldest player to score in Champions League history with stoppage-time goal for Porto against Antwerp… more than TWO DECADES after his first career finish
- Pepe is now the oldest outfield player and oldest scorer in the elite competition
- The Portuguese defedner’s career has spanned 714 matches and 28 trophies
- Liverpool’s Luis Diaz is extraordinary – Listen here to It’s All Kicking Off
Pepe became the oldest Champions League scorer in history with his last-gasp goal against Antwerp in Porto’s 2-0 win over the Belgian title winners.
He is the first player over the age of 40 to net in the competition.
At the ripe old age of 40 years and 254 days, he scored more than two decades after his first goal, which came for Maritimo on November 9 2002.
The goal itself was a typical Pepe cameo in the box, getting his head on a cross six yards out and powering past the goalkeeper.
His goal sealed a crucial win which kept Porto second in their Champions League group and three points ahead of third-placed Shakhtar Donestk after their 1-0 win over Barcelona.
Pepe’s late header against Antwerp made him the oldest scorer in Champions League history
Also the outfield oldest player ever in the competition, his first professional goal came in 2022
Pepe is in the sixth season of his second spell at Porto, having played there from 2004 to 2007
He has won 28 trophies in his career, a stunning record that few modern players can match
Pepe has enjoyed two games for the history books against Antwerp this season, much to their chagrin.
On matchday three, he became the oldest outfield player ever to play in the Champions League in a 4-1 win, and now his goal has helped to knock them out.
Since he started out for Maritimo, Pepe has had a magnificent career.
He signed for Porto in May 2004, not long before they sealed a league, domestic cup, and Champions League Treble under Jose Mourinho, but did not feature in the EUropean final against Monaco.
Spells with Real Madrid and Besitkas have complemented his stints in Portugal and brought him boundless success.
With Madrid, he won three Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, two Copa de Reys, two Supercopa, two FIFA Club World Cups, and a UEFA Super Cup.
On the international stage, he has amassed 134 appearances for Portugal and lifted the 2016 European Championships with them, as well as the 2018/19 Nations League.
In a career spanning 714 appearances and 28 trophies won, he has developed a reputation as one of Europe’s craftiests and most reliable defenders, and is still producing the goods today.
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