Captain cleaned up the disciplinary record and goes to the game in Vila do Conde, where he will become the oldest ever to play in the championship
Pepe is back. Having completed the two games of suspension imposed on him by the Disciplinary Council, following his expulsion against Benfica (Supertaça), the FC Porto captain is back in the starting eleven on the always complicated visit to Vila do Conde, after having missed the matches with Moreirense and Farense. The entry of Pepe and the consequent departure of Fábio Cardoso should, in fact, be the only change in the blue and white team compared to the one that started the match against the Algarve, in the previous round. This means that Nico González will remain in the eleven and that Pepê maintains the role that used to be played by Otávio.
Returning to Pepe, the Portuguese international will resume the partnership with Marcano and will finally make his debut in the current edition of the championship, with the right to enter directly into the history of the competition. The Porto midfielder will step onto the pitch at the Rio Ave stadium aged 40 years, 6 months and 2 days, which will make him the oldest outfield player ever to play in the top national league. A record that promises to extend, given that the season has just started.
Pepe will overtake, in one fell swoop, Rebelo, former Estrela da Amadora centre-back, who said goodbye to the pitch aged 40 years, 3 months and 15 days, and Fary, striker who played his last game for Boavista aged 40, 4 months and 24 days. Ahead are just two goalkeepers: Bracali and Quim, who played for more than 42 years. A record that the FC Porto centre-back will only be able to beat if he renews his contract in the meantime and plays beyond the current season. Which for Pepe cannot be said to be impossible… In fact, it should be noted that the captain of the dragons will also become the most « experienced » field player tonight among those who play in the main European championships. Something only possible after the end of the careers of Ibrahimovic, Quagliarella and Joaquín.
Enters the top-30 among Porto players
Pepe is getting ready to play his 258th match wearing an FC Porto jersey, which will allow him to climb into 30th place among the players who have represented the club the most throughout its history. And with an entire season ahead of him, he could still climb a few more steps. If you play, for example, as many games as last season (36), you will pass Corona (287). The Mexican is 25th in this ranking, which is led by the « eternal » captain of Vienna, João Pinto, with an incredible 587 games. Behind could also be Otávio (283), who left for Al Nassr.