Pépe: Ronaldo is born to score, but even without goals, he’s helping the team in his way

The Portuguese national team will face Slovenia in the round of 16 of the European Championship. Ahead of the match, Portuguese center-back Pépe stated that, despite captain Cristiano Ronaldo not having scored in this edition of the tournament, he has been contributing to the team in his own manner, and believes the goals will come soon.

Since scoring against Ghana in the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo has gone seven games in the World Cup and the Euros without a goal from 19 shots. Pépe, also a veteran, thinks Ronaldo’s drought won’t last much longer, expecting the superstar to find the back of the net during the knockout stages of the European Championship.

In the pre-match press conference against Slovenia, Pépe commented, “Cristiano lives for goals, it’s true, but have you seen how he helps the national team? It’s unbelievable. He’s our most played player, and he’s 39 years old. Cristiano is performing excellently, and I believe he’ll shine in the final stages of the Euros, bringing us a lot of joy.”

Pépe, alongside Ronaldo, won the Euro 2016 title and this year became the oldest player ever to feature in the competition at 41. Reflecting on this, Pépe said, “I’m very happy to be part of this squad; it’s a special feeling. The secret to staying in shape lies in my passion for football. I’ve said it many times – waking up to do what I love with high focus and competitiveness in every training session or match is how I maintain my form.”

When asked about retirement, Pépe revealed he hasn’t thought about it yet. “I haven’t considered retirement yet. My focus is on the next training session, the next game, which are crucial for me and Portugal. The future belongs to God, and I have plenty to worry about today,” he concluded.