To reach the final match of the EURO, the members of a team need to have a relationship that is closer than just team spirit. For Portugal, they are lucky to have a beautiful friendship between Ronaldo and Pepe.
Since the first time they met 19 years ago, besides hundreds of matches and dozens of titles, they have always been side by side like two peas in a pod to overcome their own limits.
Nomads meet
The first time CR7 met Pepe was in the summer of 2002. The young Ronaldo, just 18 years old and being promoted to the first team of Sporting for the first time, started talking to a tall and strange guy who had just come to the club for a trial. That was Pepe.
Having just left his home country of Brazil to play football in Europe for just one year on the island of Madeira, everything was strange to Pepe when he came to the mainland to try his hand. Luckily, he was able to meet Ronaldo, a true Madeira native. “Try hard, and we will become teammates,” Ronaldo told Pepe.
It almost came true. Sporting’s board were impressed with the performance of Pepe, a raw diamond who had only played for Maritimo’s reserve team last season.
A contract was put forward for Pepe, but he never got the chance to sign it. Sporting refused to accept Maritimo’s transfer fee, and Pepe returned to Madeira after two weeks of work.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t play with you like I wanted, but I will try harder, be stronger. We will definitely be together in the future,” Pepe promised Ronaldo.
But before they played together, they were rivals in the Portuguese league. Ronaldo won both matches and joined MU the following summer. Pepe was temporarily left behind by his friend, but eventually reached his dream destination before CR7.
Joining Real in the summer of 2007 for a transfer fee of 30 million euros, Pepe became more and more eager when the news that the White Vultures were actively recruiting Ronaldo. But before playing together at Real, they became comrades in the Portuguese national team.
Pepe once had the chance to play for the Brazilian national team, but in the end, he chose the place where he started his career to fight. Perhaps CR7 is also one of the reasons why Pepe bravely chose to change the flag and shirt color.
Brazilians who have played for Portugal, such as Pepe and before him Deco, have not always been welcomed. Luis Figo once mocked his younger brother by saying, “Where you were born, wear the national team jersey there.”
But Ronaldo, who faced discrimination when he left Madeira for Lisbon to pursue his dream of becoming a footballer, never had such prejudices. He welcomed everyone, as long as they had the ability and desire. Ronaldo and Pepe’s friendship thus grew stronger over time.
Priceless friendship
Since Pepe officially joined Portugal, he and Ronaldo have played together more than 300 times at both club and national team level. In addition, there have been thousands of heated clashes on the training ground.
Strong and always wanting to assert themselves as the best, both Pepe and Ronaldo do not want to lose to the other when they play in two opposing positions. But when it comes to official matches, both must feel lucky to be on the same side.
Pepe, who has repeatedly made Ronaldo lie on the ground during training sessions, has never stopped affirming that CR7 is the best striker he has ever seen.
On the other hand, Ronaldo can freely dance with the ball when he knows that behind him is a solid wall named Pepe. One attacking artist, one defensive butcher, they complement each other’s weaknesses to build Real, as well as Portugal, into an invincible team.
Ronaldo and Pepe were teammates at Sporting during Pepe’s two-week trial.
Ronaldo and Pepe’s peak came in the summer of 2016. Winning the Champions League with Real, they joined the national team with the ambition of winning the highest position.
“When will Portugal ever win the World Cup or EURO?”, Sir Alex once sarcastically said to Carlos Queiroz when he insisted on quitting his job as assistant at MU to coach the Portuguese national team. Sir Alex may have been right in 2008, but Ronaldo and Pepe have proven that anything is possible.
In France 5 years ago, Ronaldo was the most outstanding star of Portugal on the journey to the final. But in the final match, when CR7 was defeated and had to leave the field early in the first half, Pepe perfectly replaced him as a leader.
He played solidly, calmly neutralizing every attack from the French team to take the match into extra time, where Eder suddenly shone with a shot from outside the box. The Man of the Match award was the clearest proof of Pepe’s influence.
Having won countless glories together and overcome many difficult times, it is easy to understand why Ronaldo is always generous with his best friend Pepe. In 2019, CR7 transferred to Pepe an 8-hectare mansion, complete with a helipad and a pier for yachts to dock.
Pepe “only” had to pay 2.5 million euros for this property. A very cheap price because just a few years before, Ronaldo spent 4 million euros. Ronaldo’s pet cat was even named… Pepe, a clear testament to their friendship!
