Pepe: Both Cristiano and I Feel Deeply; I Won’t Discuss My Future Now

The dust of the Euros has yet to settle, but for Portugal, the campaign has come to an abrupt end.

After their defeat to France, one Portuguese veteran was in tears, but this time it wasn’t Ronaldo. Instead, the footballing legend became a source of strength for his grieving teammates.

In the quarterfinal clash between Portugal and France at the Euros, the outcome was decided by a cruel penalty shootout. When the final whistle blew, 41-year-old Pepe, still fighting for his country, couldn’t hold back his emotions, as tears streamed down his face. Ronaldo comforted Pepe after the match.

“Football can be truly ruthless at times,” Pepe said in a post-match interview, his voice cracking.

Refusing to disclose what Ronaldo had told him, Pepe shared, “I won’t say it publicly, but we both felt so much more than many people can imagine. We are disappointed for not winning, saddened by our elimination from such a significant stage, knowing we could have gone further. That’s the pain we feel.”

Portuguese manager Martinez also expressed his resignation to the outcome: “These tears are a direct reflection of the difficulty in accepting the result. There might not have been tears if we faced a stronger opponent, but this particular ending is hard to digest.”

Regarding Ronaldo’s international career, Martinez deemed it premature to discuss any decisions: “The situation is too sensitive right now, especially after a collective failure. It’s not the time to talk about individual choices.”

Pepe was equally guarded when it came to his own future plans: “I will have the opportunity to speak about my future, but not now. Tomorrow, people might be discussing my future, not this game.”