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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>American frontman watched Champions League growing up</li><li>Wanted to follow in footsteps of all-time greats</li><li>Reached the top in Europe following move to Eindhoven</li></ul>

Revealed: How Cristiano Ronaldo inspired USMNT star Ricardo Pepi & had him chasing a ‘dream’ that was fulfilled when making €10m PSV transfer

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/folarin-balogun-ricardo-pepi-emulate-usmnt-goal-legends-jozy-altidore-clint-dempsey-brian-mcbride-tim-howard-challenges-no9-rivals/bltcb4fb870124b04ca" target="_blank">United States international Pepi</a> decided at a young age - when growing up in El Paso, Texas – that he wanted to pursue a career as a professional soccer player. Reaching the top felt a long way off at that stage, but watching legends such as five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo had him believing that anything was possible.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Pepi took his first steps down a path towards the Champions League when leaving MLS for German side Augsburg in 2022, with a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/usmnt-ricardo-pepi-50-per-cent-groningen-goals-double-figures-eredivisie/blt7664d97c822d036e" target="_blank">loan spell at Dutch side Groningen last season seeing him register 13 goals</a>. Those efforts were enough to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/tour-america-why-psv-signing-usmnt-stars-sergino-dest-ricardo-pepi-malik-tillman-really-profitable/bltd4626e537335f4b2" target="_blank">tempt PSV into completing a €10 million (£9m/$11m) transfer</a>, with Pepi now gracing elite <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/usmnt-star-ricardo-pepi-trophy-target-psv-eredivisie-five-year-contract/bltd39abae0165faa4b" target="_blank">European competition in Eindhoven</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Pepi has told the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8Ja3Z9mZ4 " target="_blank">Men in Blazers</a> podcast of following in the footsteps of his boyhood idols: “I remember growing up watching players like Cristiano Ronaldo and always watching the Champions League, so my dream was always to one day be playing in the Champions League. I couldn’t believe it when it happened. It’s a dream come true. You don’t really know how you got there, it’s something that happens very fast.”

WHAT PEPI SAID

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/super-sub-ricardo-pepi-makes-usmnt-history-gregg-berhalter-selection-warning-folarin-balogun-striking-rivals/blt688388982217b022" target="_blank">USMNT forward Pepi</a> made his Champions League bow against Sturm Graz in the 2023-24 qualifying round – <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/usmnt-ricardo-pepi-psv-champions-league/blt3f17fc1cba2f2828" target="_blank">registering his first goal along the way</a> - with the Eredvisie outfit going on to reach the last-16 after progressing out of a group that included Arsenal, Lens and Sevilla.

WHAT NEXT FOR PEPI?

Revealed: How Cristiano Ronaldo inspired USMNT star Ricardo Pepi & had him chasing a ‘dream’ that was fulfilled when making €10m PSV transfer | Goal.com

Ricardo Pepi has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo inspired him, with the Portuguese icon helping the USMNT star to chase a Champions League “dream”.