Ricardo Pepi Suffers Forearm Injury, Set to Miss Two Months

United States striker Ricardo Pepi is facing a two-month recovery period due to a broken forearm sustained while playing for PSV Eindhoven this past Saturday, the Dutch club reported.

The 23-year-old incurred the injury while scoring the second goal for PSV during their commanding 5-1 victory over Excelsior in the Eredivisie. After landing awkwardly, Pepi remained on the ground and required assistance to leave the field, prompting his substitution.

Following the injury, PSV confirmed that Pepi had been transported to the hospital, where he is scheduled to undergo surgery on Sunday.

“It didn’t look good right away, and in such moments, one wishes to look the other way,” commented PSV head coach Peter Bosz.

This injury is a significant setback for Pepi, particularly with the World Cup just five months away, as the U.S. is set to kick off their campaign against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Pepi’s participation in the team’s final friendlies prior to the World Cup selection by coach Mauricio Pochettino is now also in question; the U.S. will face Belgium on March 28 and Portugal three days later.

Pepi has netted 13 goals in 34 appearances for the national team and was recently included in the roster for the victories against Paraguay and Uruguay in November. His goal on Saturday marked his 11th in 22 appearances for PSV this season, following a knee injury that sidelined him for the latter half of the previous season.

“Last January, Ricardo was already out due to his knee injury,” Bosz noted. “While this absence won’t be as prolonged, it is disheartening to lose him again. Pepi was on a solid trajectory, having a strong training camp and regaining his confidence. His momentum seemed promising for a robust second half of the season, making this situation incredibly disappointing—both for him and for us.”