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39-Year-Old Pepe Proved He's Still An Absolute Madman With Supersonic Run Across Full Pitch In 10 Seconds

39-Year-Old Pepe Proved He's Still An Absolute Madman With Supersonic Run Across Full Pitch In 10 Seconds

This is next-level commitment.

Portugal defender Pepe proved he is still the maddest man in football by covering the entire Estadio de Alvalade pitch in 10 seconds - at the age of 39.

Fernando Santos' side welcomed the Czech Republic to Lisbon on Thursday evening for their Nations League group B game.

Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Guedes scored in the first half to give Portugal victory, but the main talking point was Pepe's insane athleticism.

Just before the hour mark, the Czech Republic had a chance to counter after Raphael Guerreiro lost possession.

Porto superstar Pepe had come up for the attack and quickly realised he had to get back in position.

He left Guerreiro and William Carvalho, players who are 11 and nine years his junior, huffing and puffing behind him.

That insane desire is what made Pepe one of the best defenders of his generation while at Real Madrid.

Fans have reacted to the clip online and they're absolutely speechless at the pace on display.

One said: "He surpasses almost all his teammates... This is extraordinary!"

Another commented: "This is what many players lack, knowing how to run backwards."

A third put: "Pepe is still one of the best central defenders in the world."

While someone else tweeted: "He's built different, a 39-year-old guy doing this..."

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Pepe made his name at Real and won three La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues during a decade at the Santiago Bernabeu.

An aggressive but quick defender, he complemented Sergio Ramos well and the duo were one of Europe's best.

He left in 2017 and moved to Besiktas, with many believing his career was winding down. It was anything but.

An offer from former side Porto came in and he made an emotional return after 12 years away in 2019.

Since re-joining Porto, Pepe has won two Primeira Liga titles and two Taca de Portugals. He also started a fight with the entire Atletico Madrid team and got sent off for a getting involved in a wild brawl against Sporting Lisbon. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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Alamy

He is a regular in the Portugal national team and is their fourth most-capped player of all time with 125 appearances.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho and Luis Figo can boast more Selecao game time.

He will leapfrog Figo as early as Sunday if he starts against Switzerland.

Pepe will be hoping to make it to this winter's World Cup in Qatar and help his country win their second major international honour.

Featured Image Credit: UEFA

Topics: Portugal, Pepe, UEFA Nations League, Czech Republic