Pepe was born on February 26, 1983, in Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil. He began his footballing career as a youth player at the Brazilian club Corinthians Alagoano before moving to Portugal with his family at the age of 18.

In Portugal, Pepe joined the Maritimo youth academy and made his professional debut for the club in 2001. He quickly established himself as a talented and tough-tackling defender and went on to play for several other Portuguese clubs, including Porto and Braga.

Pepe began his professional club career in Portugal with Maritimo in 2001. After impressing in his early years with the club, he was signed by Porto in 2004, where he won two Primeira Liga titles, a Portuguese Cup, and a UEFA Champions League title in 2004.

In 2007, Pepe signed for Spanish giants Real Madrid for a fee of €30 million, which was then a world record fee for a defender. He quickly established himself as a key player for the club, forming a solid defensive partnership with Sergio Ramos.

Pepe went on to play for Real Madrid for 10 seasons, making over 330 appearances in all competitions. During his time at the club, he won three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, and three UEFA Champions League titles. He was known for his tough tackling, aerial ability, and leadership on the pitch.

In 2017, Pepe left Real Madrid to join Turkish club Besiktas on a free transfer, where he played for two seasons before returning to Portugal to sign with Porto once again in 2019. He has continued to be a key player for the club, helping them win the Primeira Liga title in 2019-20 and 2021-22.

Pepe made his international debut for Portugal in 2007 and has since been a regular member of the squad, playing in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. He was an instrumental part of the Portugal team that won the UEFA Euro 2016, where he played a key role in their defensive unit.

Pepe has also represented Portugal in the FIFA World Cup, featuring in the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions of the tournament. He was a key player in Portugal's 2018 World Cup campaign, helping them to reach the knockout stages of the tournament. 

Overall, Pepe has made over 130 appearances to date for the Portugal national team, making him one of the country's most-capped players.