What Happened to Ricardo Pepi?

Ricardo Pepi's journey in professional soccer has been marked by early promise, a challenging European transition, and a triumphant resurgence, culminating in his selection for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Born on January 9, 2003, in El Paso, Texas, Pepi quickly rose through the ranks of FC Dallas, signing a homegrown contract at 16 and earning the MLS Young Player of the Year award in 2021 after a 13-goal season.

His impressive form led to a high-profile transfer to Bundesliga club FC Augsburg in January 2022, a record fee for an American MLS player. However, his time in Germany proved difficult, with limited playing time and no goals in 15 appearances. This challenging period coincided with a significant setback in his international career: despite being a key contributor in the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with three goals, Pepi was controversially left off the final USMNT roster for Qatar 2022, a decision that deeply affected him.

Pepi's career began to turn around with a loan spell at FC Groningen in the Eredivisie for the 2022-23 season, where he rediscovered his scoring touch, netting 12 goals in 29 league matches. This successful period paved the way for a permanent move to Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven in July 2023 for approximately €9-10 million. At PSV, Pepi has thrived, amassing double-digit goals in back-to-back seasons and contributing to three consecutive Eredivisie titles in 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26. He also scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in November 2023.

His consistent club form and renewed confidence translated back to the national team. Under new USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Pepi has become an indispensable part of the squad. He was instrumental in the USA winning back-to-back Concacaf Nations League titles in 2023 and 2024 and was included in the 2024 Copa America roster. As of April 2026, he had accumulated 40 caps and 13 goals for the USMNT, ranking him among the most prolific American strikers of his generation.

The ultimate redemption came on May 29, 2026, when Pepi was officially named to the USA roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the United States. This selection marked his first appearance in the global finals, a moment of significant personal and professional triumph. During the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, Pepi has already made an impact, coming on as a substitute against Paraguay on June 12 and starting against Australia on June 19, where he played a crucial role in a 2-0 victory that secured the USMNT's progression to the knockout stages. He also started against Turkey on June 25.

Despite ongoing transfer speculation, including a reported €35-40 million move to Fulham that collapsed in March 2026, Pepi remains a PSV player as of July 2, 2026. His focus is firmly on the World Cup, where he is seen as a vital attacking option, known for his lethal finishing and ability to create scoring opportunities.