Ricardo Pepi
Country: USA/Mexico
Date of birth: 09/01/2003 (18 years old)
Place of birth: El Paso, Texas (USA)
Height: 185cm
Youth career: FC Dallas/North Texas SC
Current club: FC Dallas
Squad number: 16
Current national team: —
Position: centre-forward
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 2.500.000 €
Tournaments participated in: 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup (2/0)
Contract until: 31.12.2026
Player’s agent: SXI
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Robert Lewandowski
Strengths:
– finishing 
– instinct
– off the ball movement
– heading
– link-up play
– athleticism
– ball control 
– first touch
Weaknesses:
No significant weaknesses.
Style of play:
– complete forward
– tall player with very good body mass ratio, physical strength, power, stamina and natural fitness who feels comfortable in contact situations
– powerful and determined forward with killer-instinct, good technique on the ball and cleverness at his off-the-ball movements
– very good pace, footwork, agility, and coordination for a player of his size
– generates many flick-ons and passes into the channels for his teammates to utilize
– killer instinct and off the ball movement in the final third
– clinical finisher capable on both feet
– capable of holding up the ball for teammates to provide them with assists when playing with his back to goal/good ability to connect with midfield
– great sense of positioning while receiving through balls
– equally useful in combinational and counterattacking style
– knows how to use his body to shield the ball from defenders thanks to his technique, strength and ball control
– above-average passing, vision, creativity, and playmaking skills
– able to sniff out a goal in any situation
– often moves deep into midfield and drawing defenders with him, in order to create and exploit spaces for his teammates
– aerial threat in the opposition box
– indirect set-piece threat
– aggressive and hard-working in pressing/when out of possession
– accurate penalty taker
Pepi with a great off the ball movement and superb finish.
Pepi attacks from the wing, dribbles past two opponents and scores.
He is best suited to playing as:
Centre-forward in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
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League summary (as for 12 August 2021):
USL League One 2019: 13 games/11 goals (North Texas)
MLS 2019: 7 games/0 goals (Dallas)
USL League One 2020: 1 game/0 goals (North Texas)
MLS 2020: 19 games/3 goals (Dallas)
MLS 2021 (ongoing): 17 games/8 goals (Dallas)
Description:
Ricardo Pepi is a product of FC Dallas youth academy. He is a part of an extremely generation of American players born in 2003 which includes, among others Cade Cowell, Caden Clark, Kevin Paredes, Dante Sealy, Moses Nyeman, Justin Che, and Paxten Aaronson. In 2019, Pepi scored 11 goals in just 13 games for North Texas SC – a team that operates as the reserve team of FC Dallas. He’s been sensational in the MLS this season – so far he scored 8 goals in 17 games. On 24 July 2021, he became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat-trick. He is eligible to play for both the United States and Mexico, but he has not made the final decision yet.
Quotes:
“I’ve talked to people, I’ve talked to Luchi, and they always say that I play a similar style to Lewandowski or even Erling Haaland, and I feel like those are two of the players that I look at as my game being similar to.”
(Ricardo Pepi)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.
Links: