Portugal’s Pepe sets World Cup record in a 6-1 win

Pepe
Portugal's defender #03 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Portugal and Switzerland at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 6, 2022. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)

Portugal veteran Pepe has become the second-oldest World Cup goal scorer in history at the age of 39 years and 283 days.

In the round of 16 against Switzerland, the FC Porto central defender scored the goal from a corner to make it 2-0 (33rd minute), putting himself ahead of his team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo (37 years and 292 days).

Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who scored against Russia (1:6) at the 1994 World Cup at the age of 42 years and 39 days, is still in first place in the rankings.

Portugal dismantled Switzerland 6-1 and thus entered the quarter-finals of the World Cup. After a slow start, Portugal grew in strength as the game progressed, scoring twice before the break through Gonçalo Ramos and Pepe.

Switzerland seemed unimaginative in the first half but had two chances to score through Shaqiri and Freuler. Portugal turned up the heat after the break and put the result to a four-goal lead through Gonçalo Ramos and Guerreiro. Akanji’s goal for Switzerland failed to materialize as the superb Gonçalo Ramos crowned himself with a hat-trick and Rafael Leão completed the dread with a dream goal just before the end.

Portugal will meet Morocco in the quarter-finals next Saturday at 4 p.m. The Swiss, who are weak today, have to return home after the clear defeat. That was it from the Portugal vs. Switzerland game.