When you think of a list of the dirtiest players in world football, it probably only contains one name because Pepe has elbowed aside all other contenders in your imagination.
But the Real Madrid centre-back has turned his act around right in time to make it across the divide in Santa’s naughty/nice list.
The Portuguese is the only player out of La Liga’s forty first-choice central defenders who haven’t been shown a yellow card this season.
Not only is his name a glaring absence from referees’ notebooks throughout Spain, Pepe has also committed a measly total of five fouls all season.
What a turnaround from the man who once did this.
Pepe’s position as best boy in Spain is even more impressive when considered alongside La Liga’s other top defenders.
According to Marca, Javier Mascherano has committed eight fouls and has seen one yellow and one red, Gerard Piqué has conceded seven fouls and has four yellow cards, Diego Godín has given away eight fouls and picked up three bookings while Miranda has fouled seven times and been booked four times.
