 On 15 January 2019, he played his first game for Porto since 2007 in the 2018–19 Taça de Portugal quarter-finals, winning 1–2 against Leixões.Pepe never represented his native Brazil in any youth category.However, according to the player's father, in 2006, he was contacted by head coach Dunga about a possible call-up which he declined, stating that once he obtained Portuguese citizenship, he would join its national team.