Ricardo Pepi’s Journey Back to Competitive Play
Ricardo Pepi, the striker for PSV Eindhoven and the U.S. men’s national soccer team, has shared that he is nearing a return to competitive play after a significant knee injury. Pepi’s setback occurred during a Champions League match against Liverpool on January 29, where he not only scored the decisive goal in a thrilling 3-2 win but had to exit the match early due to his injury in the 76th minute.
Following the incident, he underwent meniscus surgery in the United States, which sidelined him for the latter part of the 2024-2025 season and also ruled him out of the Concacaf Gold Cup that summer with his national team.
Rehabilitation and Optimism
After months of rehabilitation, Pepi expressed optimism about his recovery, stating,
“It’s amazing to be back with the team after five months. I’m almost at 100%, just a few final adjustments before fully rejoining the squad.”
He emphasized the importance of patience in recovery, mentioning the necessity of respecting his body’s readiness to return to play.
New Season and Expectations
Heading into the new season, Pepi is sporting a new number, having taken over the No. 9 shirt previously worn by departing captain Luuk de Jong. He recognizes the significance of this change, noting,
“With this new number comes great expectations, and no one expects more from me than I do from myself. I’m looking forward to balancing my personal goals with helping the team.”
During the previous season, despite his injury issues, Pepi still managed to finish with 17 goals across all competitions, just one goal shy of de Jong’s tally. His ambitions extend beyond club performance; Pepi aims to regain a place on the national team and make an impact for the U.S. at the 2026 World Cup.
“Getting to the World Cup is a lifelong goal, and my club performance is crucial for that. I need to focus on succeeding with PSV first,”
he remarked.
Pepi last donned the national team jersey on November 18, 2024, when he contributed a goal in a memorable 4-2 win against Jamaica during the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal.
