Messi and Ronaldo "bowed their heads" and admitted losing to one person. No matter how great they are, there is "no way" they could do this

Pepe - the Portuguese midfielder recently set an unprecedented record by becoming the first player over 40 years old to score in the Champions League. After this victory, both Messi and Ronaldo congratulated the male player.

36-year-old Lionel Messi has had to travel to the US to "retire" with Inter Miami Club since July this year. At the age of 38, Cristiano Ronaldo is also settling down in a remote Middle Eastern country with Al Nassr Club. Both of these GOATs no longer have a chance to improve their scoring performance in the UEFA Champions League arena.

But Pepe is still doing great in the European arena, even though he is over 40 years old. This morning, November 8, Ronaldo's teammate in Portugal scored a goal to seal a 2-0 victory for Porto against host Antwerp in the final minutes of extra time. In Group H, Porto has 9 points equal to Barca - the team lost 0-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk in this match. Thereby, the Portuguese midfielder set an unprecedented record.

The former Real Madrid midfielder became the oldest player, and the first player over 40 years old, to score in the Champions League. When he scored, Pepe was 40 years and 254 days old.

Pepe broke the old record of 38 years and 59 days of Francesco Totti, who scored for Roma in the match against CSKA Moscow on November 25, 2014. The next three players include: Ryan Giggs, 37 years and 290 days, Man Utd - Benfica match on September 14, 2011, Filippo Inzaghi, 37 years and 87 days, Milan - Real Madrid match on November 3, 2010, and Javier Zanetti, 37 years and 72 days, Inter - Tottenham match on October 20, 2010.

If Ronaldo and Messi take turns dominating the rankings of the Champions League's greatest strikers, Pepe also ranks number 1 in Europe's most prestigious arena in his own way. Previously, in the third match of the group stage, Porto's midfielder also set a record for being the oldest player to play in the Champions League. That day, he was 40 years old and 241 days old.

Pepe's record makes both GOATs of contemporary football take their hats off. It is known that after the Portuguese midfielder scored for Porto against Antwerp, Ronaldo congratulated his national team teammates via Twitter. Messi also clicked "Like" in a comment praising Pepe from defensive midfielder Alan Varela - a compatriot playing for Porto.

Although he is in his forties, Pepe still wears the captain's armband of Porto and plays every minute in the matches he plays. He still plays hard, is still ready to "eat" the opponent's players in case of need and especially still participates in supporting the attack. Coach Sergio Concecao still puts full faith in Pepe. He has not given him a minute to rest this season, except when the midfielder is injured or suspended.

Staying until the 40-year-old milestone in football is extremely difficult. At that age, still playing well in an extremely harsh arena like the UEFA Champions League is even more difficult. Although his physical strength is still quite good, Ronaldo only aims to play football until he is 40 years old. And Messi bluntly stated that he did not dare to dream of playing football in the 2026 World Cup finals - that is, when he is 39 years old.

Without a doubt, Pepe deserves to be called the greatest "tree of immortality" in Champions League history.

Pepe started his career in 2001, at Portuguese club Maritimo. He played in the early stages for FC Porto from 2004 to 2007, before returning in 2019. Pepe is also a Real Madrid legend, with three Champions League and three La Liga.

This season, the 40-year-old midfielder still proves his ability with eight appearances in all competitions. In the three previous seasons, he helped FC Porto win eight titles including: two Portuguese championships, three National Cups, one Federation Cup and two Portuguese Super Cups.

Pepe is also a star in the Portuguese national team. He attended Euro 2008, 2012, 2016, 2021, World Cup 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, belongs to the golden generation that won Euro 2016 and then Nations League 2019. At Euro 2008, 2012 and 2016, Pepe was in the winning squad. expression.

FC Porto is currently ranked second in Group H of the Champions League, with nine points after four matches. They are equal in points and difference with leading team Barca, but less direct confrontation. Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk ranked third with six points, while Royal Antwerp has no points yet. Next time, FC Porto will be a guest against Barca.

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