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United States Ricardo Pepi has progressed from a youth academy player to a professional striker in top-tier European leagues and a key member of the United States national team, demonstrating significant advancement in his football career.
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Ricardo Pepi advertised Bimbo desserts, which is a massive international company.
Ricardo Daniel Pepi was born on January 9, 2003, in El Paso, Texas. He began playing recreational soccer at four years old, eventually joining a club coached by his father. His talent was recognized early, leading him to join the FC Dallas Academy at age 13 in 2016. During his time in the academy, Pepi demonstrated a notable scoring ability, including 18 goals in 15 games for the under-13 side and 19 goals in eight matches for the under-17 team at age 15. This early exposure to structured football development laid the groundwork for his professional career. In December 2018, at age 15, he became the first signing for North Texas SC, FC Dallas’s developmental pro team, where he scored a hat-trick in his debut match in March 2019 and helped the team win the inaugural USL League One title.
Pepi’s career continued to advance rapidly. In June 2019, he signed a homegrown player deal with FC Dallas at 16 years old, making his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut shortly after. His breakthrough season came in 2021 with FC Dallas, where he led the team with 13 goals and was named to the MLS All-Star Team, earning MLS Young Player of the Year honors. His strong performances led to a significant move to FC Augsburg in Germany’s Bundesliga in January 2022 for a reported $20 million, marking him as the most expensive homegrown player in MLS history. He later went on loan to FC Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie for the 2022-23 season, where he scored 12 goals in 29 appearances. In July 2023, Pepi joined PSV Eindhoven, signing a five-year contract. He has since become a winner of the Eredivisie with PSV, and scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in November 2023.
Internationally, Pepi represented the United States at the U-17 level, participating in the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship and the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut for the United States men’s national team (USMNT) in September 2021 during World Cup Qualifiers, scoring the game-winner against Honduras. He was named 2021 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year. Pepi has played in 10 of 14 World Cup Qualifying matches, scoring three goals and providing five assists. He has also played a crucial role in the USMNT’s success in the CONCACAF Nations League, contributing to their victories in 2023 and 2024.
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