--- title: World Cup 2018: Pepe's Flop Draws Viral Backlash description: As Morocco searched for a stoppage time equalizer against Portugal, one player's reaction earned him some online ire from World Cup fans. canonical: https://time.com/5317305/world-cup-2018-pepe-flop-portugal-morocco/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-06-20T18:36:08.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T09:31:36.687Z og:title: World Cup Fans Lose It Over Flop in Portugal-Morocco Game og:description: "Pepe gonna Pepe" og:url: https://time.com/5317305/world-cup-2018-pepe-flop-portugal-morocco/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfae2ea05922e8b52/698933774ee2625072312255/world-cup-2018-pepe-benatia.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: World-Cup-2018-Pepe-Benatia og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: World Cup Fans Lose It Over Flop in Portugal-Morocco Game twitter:description: "Pepe gonna Pepe" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfae2ea05922e8b52/698933774ee2625072312255/world-cup-2018-pepe-benatia.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # World Cup Fans Are Losing It Over Pepe's Ridiculous Flop in the Portugal-Morocco Game > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=a558d949-8c32-4942-b293-5b60f819a2d5&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Fans React to Portugal's Win Over Morocco at the 2018 World Cup [Watch (HLS stream): Fans React to Portugal's Win Over Morocco at the 2018 World Cup](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/5BldPpSM.m3u8) (1:56)  _Published 2018-06-21. Fans react to Portugal's win over Morocco at the 2018 World Cup_  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Jun 20, 2018 6:36 PM UTC  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Jun 20, 2018 6:36 PM UTC As Morocco desperately searched for a stoppage time equalizer to [Cristiano Ronaldo’s](http://time.com/money/5310369/cristiano-ronaldo-net-worth/) fourth-minute header during their Wednesday match against [Portugal](http://time.com/money/4979499/airbnb-portugal-viana-do-castelo/), one player’s actions earned him some ire from [World Cup](http://time.com/5317154/senegal-coach-world-cup/) fans. With time running out, Portugal defender Pepe staged a particularly egregious flop following a tap on the back from Morocco’s Medhi Benatia. The dive quickly sent soccer Twitter into a frenzy as footage of the stunt began making the online rounds. “Please keep Pepe in your prayers after this assault from Benatia,” the [World Cup Goals account](https://twitter.com/FIFAWCGoals) jokingly captioned the video. “Aaaaand the Oscar for best actor goes to Pepe!!” added another user. > [](https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/1009436992583581696) > [](https://twitter.com/IkonicNumber7/status/1009461421011136513) > [](https://twitter.com/sincerelyxharry/status/1009461251397824514) Morocco went on to lose the game 1-0, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the international tournament. See some more reactions to Pepe’s dive below. > [](https://twitter.com/IkonicNumber7/status/1009461421011136513) > [](https://twitter.com/442oons/status/1009433397213659141) > [](https://twitter.com/COPA90US/status/1009433791155331079) > [](https://twitter.com/JohnKeogh1892/status/1009435881713872900) > [](https://twitter.com/JARiiseOfficial/status/1009433939688161281) > [](https://twitter.com/FootyHumour/status/1009434966122475520) > [](https://twitter.com/StevePatten/status/1009433496664858625) > [](https://twitter.com/ElNnenyM/status/1009435491605852160) ## Transcript [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Very important win. A win, but a tough one. Very tough. Morrocco played well. We suffered a lot during the whole game, but we got the three points. Yeah, Morrocco played very well. I think they were deserving of at least a draw. But we happy obviously with a win. [ INAUDIBLE ] [ BLANK_AUDIO ] They play like they play today, they got no chance. But obviously they'll. Rise to the occasion, I believe when Portugal play against the top teams, they raise their game. What do you think? Hopefully they don't play like they played today, but at least we got the three points. But we do have to improve if we wanna go past the group and carry on from the Round of 16 and then, but we do have to improve. 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