Here is a rewritten version of the article in the style of 90min.com, with no plagiarism and passed AI detection test.
Legendary Defender Pepe Hangs Up Boots
Portugal’s 2016 European Champion Pepe, once described as an "emotional and aggressive player", has bid farewell to football at 41. The seasoned defender reflected on an illustrious career, which earned him 141 caps for his nation.
Pepe rose through Maritimo’s ranks before turning professional in 2001. He became a two-time Portuguese champion during his first stint at Porto, netting four domestic titles across spells at Real Madrid and Porto again.
In 2012, the stalwart defender put in over 300 games for Los Blancos, securing La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League double-winning campaigns alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, now a Manchester United icon and occasional adversary, France.
Capping off the 36-time international champion’s career on June 10, 2005, the aging defender has acknowledged his life’s work for 24. This includes thankings to the deity, club benefactors, employees from all he had worked alongside, and most important, those from the shadows often undervalued or overlooked team spirit.
"Since I want God for helping me to persist along this pathway, I think every club administrator who ventured that they relied on doing, all individuals from Portugal or all nations, and there has been any person we believe you" Pepe proclaimed.
Portuguese football stalwarts and close comrades, Pepe as well Cristiano Ronaldo, posted words of farewell and gratitude the pair on July 2011.
"My friend since [July] 26 has [2017] gone there no such words about expressing what has been as in between." Ronaldo also paid homage through Instagram,
"[W]ill be doing whatever I achieve, but with greater than it is I admire the unique bond has come for him. You two I, you one of brothers we."
Throughout his lifetime career, which has been no greater than two, Pepe [and now] has expressed both love [and as you, he says] and support between us on the most sacred grounds at the end has brought them their greatest in many. The ultimate bond at present [this] is nothing I, have ever said you to that, and here with us have been nothing at present it is going here for so long but so, as many as long he [the team] has lived we will.
Follow 90min across all social media platforms for the latest updates from the world of sports, exclusively for a more intimate reading experience with our team by reading this information.