Ricardo Pepi

North Texas SC

On December 8, 2018, Pepi became the first signing for North Texas SC, the new affiliate club for FC Dallas in USL League One. On March 30, 2019, he made his professional debut in North Texas SC's first ever match, scoring a hat-trick in a 3–2 victory over the Chattanooga Red Wolves. Following the match, North Texas SC head coach Eric Quill stated: "I'd like to say that it shocks me, but it doesn't shock me. He's been in unbelievable form in the preseason. Every game, he's growing. He's got such a hunger to score goals, that is rare. He can finish in any way." In the following match against Forward Madison, Pepi scored for the second match in a row deep into second half stoppage time to give North Texas SC the 1–0 home victory. He was then called into the international under-17 squad. When he returned, Pepi scored again in his third game of the season against Lansing Ignite in a 2–2 draw. On October 12, 2019, Pepi returned to North Texas SC for the semifinals of the USL League One playoffs. He scored a brace for North Texas SC against Forward Madison in a 2–0 home victory, advancing the side to the final. After the match, Pepi was called into the under-17 side, thus not being available for selection against Greenville Triumph in the final on October 19. Despite his absence, North Texas SC proceeded to win the match 1–0 through Arturo Rodríguez, thus winning their first championship and giving Pepi his first trophy. Pepi was named as a finalist for the…

Born in the United States, Pepi was eligible to play for both the United States and Mexico through his parents. He had also previously attended training camps for both the United States under-17 and Mexico under-17 sides. On April 22, 2019, Pepi was included in the United States under-17 squad by Raphaël Wicky for the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. On May 12, Pepi scored his first international goal against Panama, followed by a brace against Canada to help the United States advance to the final. In October 2019, Pepi was included again in the under-17 squad, this time for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. On August 26, 2021, manager Gregg Berhalter selected Pepi in the United States squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. On September 8, 2021, Pepi made his debut for the United States and scored the winning goal in a 4–1 away victory against Honduras. His goal was the second of the match, giving the United States a 2–1 lead. He scored twice in his second match, a 2–0 qualifying win against Jamaica played in Austin, Texas. Despite the early success, Pepi was ultimately not called up to the team's 26-man 2022 World Cup roster. In his first international match following the World Cup, Pepi scored his fourth and fifth international goals as part of a brace in a 7–1 Nations League victory over Grenada. Four days later, he scored the game-winning goal against El Salvador to send the United States into the 2023 Nations League semifinals. In the Nations League semifinal against Mexico,…

Club

As of match played August 22, 2026

International

As of match played July 6, 2026

United States score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pepi goal.

Pepi was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in nearby San Elizario, Texas. He is of Mexican descent, and he regularly travels to Ciudad Juárez to visit family. Pepi began playing recreational soccer when he was only four years old in local El Paso leagues. He soon began playing competitive organized soccer for a club coached by his father, Daniel Pepi. The club would soon become affiliated with Major League Soccer club FC Dallas, who scouted Pepi following the Copa Chivas tournament in 2016, offering the then 13-year old the opportunity to join the FC Dallas youth academy. In his first season, Pepi was put into the under-13 side and scored 18 goals in just 15 games, leading him to rise up the ranks within the club. He was soon promoted to the under-17 side as a 15-year old, scoring 19 goals in eight matches.