Why Portugal values Pepe The Unpopular

Portuguese defender Pepe doesn’t exactly make himself easy to like — one brutal temper tantrum, the kind that would make even Joey Barton blush, earned him a 10-match ban at Real Madrid after he raked his studs down the back of an opponent in 2009.

More recently, his embarrassing play-acting in this year’s Champions League final drew social media abuse from all over the world.

La ridicule simulation de #pepe en finale de @ChampionsLeague et la réaction WTF de l'arbitre. #besoinduncoach pic.twitter.com/VRp58zHvgO

— Wineven Coaching (@winevensport) May 30, 2016