Forward
Ricardo Pepi
6'1"
Get the full profile of USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi. Full career stats, club history (FC Dallas, Augsburg, Groningen, PSV), and US Soccer Players news analysis.
Caps: 34 | Goals: 13
A lethal finisher known for his movement in the box and aerial ability, Ricardo Pepi has established himself as one of the premier strikers in the USMNT pool. After a meteoric rise with FC Dallas where he became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in MLS history, “El Tren” made the jump to Europe with FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga. He truly found his footing in the Dutch Eredivisie, first with FC Groningen and then with powerhouse PSV Eindhoven, where he became a champion. A dual-national who chose to represent the United States over Mexico, Pepi is defined by his high-efficiency finishing and ability to score in clutch moments.
Photos by Robin Alam – ISIPhotos.com
Credit: Robin Alam - ISIPhotos.comUSMNT Experience
2025
Following a return from injury, Pepi reintegrated into the national team setup late in the year. He featured in the November international window, subbing on in the 2-1 win over Paraguay on November 15. He was part of the squad that faced Uruguay on November 18, though he did not feature in the match. His earlier part of the year was impacted by a club injury that sidelined him for the spring and summer windows.
2024
Pepi enjoyed a prolific year, particularly in the fall under the new coaching staff. He was a key figure in the Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals, starting and scoring in both the first leg (1-0 win, Nov 14) and the second leg (4-2 win, Nov 18) against Jamaica. Earlier in the fall, he subbed on and scored the clinching goal in a 2-0 win over Panama on October 12. His summer included a call-up to the Copa America roster, where he appeared in all three group stage matches as a substitute against Bolivia (2-0 win, Jun 23), Panama (1-2 loss, Jun 27), and Uruguay (0-1 loss, Jul 1). In the warm-up matches, he notably started against Brazil in the 1-1 draw on June 12. He also helped the team win the Concacaf Nations League title in March, appearing as a substitute in the semifinal win over Jamaica.
2023
Pepi displayed incredible efficiency off the bench throughout 2023. He started and scored two goals in the 7-1 Nations League win over Grenada (Mar 24) and followed it up by scoring the winner off the bench against El Salvador (Mar 27). He continued his "super sub" role perfectly in the Nations League Semifinal against Mexico (3-0 win, Jun 15), scoring the third goal to seal the victory. In the fall, he added goals as a substitute against Uzbekistan (3-0 win, Sep 9), Oman (4-0 win, Sep 12), and Trinidad & Tobago (3-0 win, Nov 16).
2022
Pepi was a regular starter during the critical final stretch of World Cup Qualifying. He started pivotal matches against Honduras (3-0 win, Feb 2), Mexico (0-0 draw at the Azteca, Mar 24), and Costa Rica (0-2 loss, Mar 30). Although he was named to the roster for the final September friendlies, starting against Saudi Arabia (Sep 27), he was ultimately not selected for the 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar.
2021
Pepi burst onto the international scene with a historic debut. In his first match on September 8, he started and was involved in all four goals against Honduras, scoring the winner and providing two assists in a 4-1 victory. He followed that performance by scoring two goals against Jamaica in a 2-0 World Cup Qualifying win on October 7. He finished the year as the team's breakout star, earning US Soccer Young Male Player of the Year honors.
Credit: Ciro De Luca - ZUMA Press Wire - ISIPhotos.comProfessional Experience
2025-26
Pepi overcame an early-season knee injury in August to become a key contributor for PSV Eindhoven. Through December 2025, he had already recorded seven goals in just 14 appearances in the Eredivisie, continuing to push for the starting striker role. An arm injury on Jan 10 meant missing at least two months.
2024-25
In his second season with the Dutch giants, Pepi was in blistering form, scoring 11 goals in 18 league appearances. However, his campaign was cut short in February 2025 due to a significant injury. Despite his absence in the final months, PSV Eindhoven went on to win the Eredivisie title, earning Pepi his second consecutive league winner's medal.
2023-24
Pepi joined PSV Eindhoven in July 2023 and proved to be one of the most efficient strikers in Europe. Operating largely as an impact substitute behind Luuk de Jong, he made 27 appearances and scored seven goals, helping the club dominate the league and win the Eredivisie title. He also featured in the UEFA Champions League, scoring a dramatic winner against Sevilla in the group stage.
2022-23
Seeking regular playing time, Pepi moved on loan to FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. In a difficult season for the club, he was the bright spot, scoring 12 goals in 29 appearances. While the club finished 18th and was relegated, Pepi’s individual performance convinced PSV to sign him permanently.
2021-22
After his breakout year in MLS, Pepi signed with Bundesliga side FC Augsburg in January 2022 for a club-record fee. He made 11 appearances in the second half of the season as he adjusted to the speed and physicality of the German topflight.
2021
Pepi enjoyed a breakout campaign, scoring 13 goals in 31 appearances and earning the MLS Young Player of the Year award. He was also named an MLS All-Star for the first time. Despite his individual performance, FC Dallas struggled collectively, finishing 11th in the Western Conference and missing the MLS Cup Playoffs.
2020
In the pandemic-shortened season, Pepi began to earn regular minutes, appearing in 17 matches and scoring two goals. FC Dallas finished 6th in the Western Conference. In the MLS Cup Playoffs, Pepi became a hero in the First Round, scoring a stoppage-time equalizer against the Portland Timbers to force a penalty shootout, which Dallas won. The team’s run ended in the Western Conference Semifinals with a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders.
2019
Pepi signed a Homegrown Player contract in June and made his MLS debut at age 16, appearing in seven games during his rookie season. FC Dallas finished 7th in the Western Conference but was eliminated in the First Round of the playoffs by eventual champions Seattle Sounders. Pepi spent the majority of the year with the club’s affiliate, North Texas SC, where he scored a hat-trick on his pro debut and led the team to the USL League One title.
Youth and College
Born in El Paso, Texas, Pepi grew up crossing the border to play in leagues in Ciudad Juárez, giving him a unique background. He joined the FC Dallas academy in 2016 and rapidly ascended the ranks. He starred for their affiliate North Texas SC in 2019, scoring a hat-trick on his professional debut in USL League One at age 16.
