Pepe lives up to reputation as Real Madrid legend is sent off for punching opponent in Porto’s clash with Sporting Lisbon

Pepe may be in the twilight years of his career but he's still as feisty as ever.

The iconic centre-back, who won three LaLiga titles and three Champions League trophies with Real Madrid, turns 41 in February, but he certainly hasn't mellowed as he's got older.

That's what a clip from his current side Porto's 2-0 loss to rivals Sporting Lisbon suggests, anyway.

Former Coventry City star Viktor Gyokeres fired the home side ahead in the first-half.

Before Sporting could double their advantage through Pedro Goncalves, though, Pepe was sent for an early bath.

The Portugal international — who had already been booked for a challenge on Gyokeres — was setting the ball down to take a free-kick, but was pushed in the back by Matheus Reis as he prepared to take it.

It's fair to say Pepe didn't take kindly to Reis, swinging his right arm back to strike his opponent in the face.

The Sporting star clutched his face in pain and turned to fall in a heap on the floor.

Referee Nuno Almeida was called over to the pitch-side monitor and after a lengthy review, gave Pepe a red card.

The decision received a sarcastic cheer from the home crowd as the 2016 European Championship winner left his side to play the rest of the clash with ten men.

The sending off marked Pepe's 15th red card of his club football career, and his second in just 14 appearances.

Fans on social media loved it though, as they cracked up at Pepe continuing to 'do Pepe things' and showing he's still got the ability to suddenly lash out in a moment of madness.