The American forward was in exceptional shape before the World Cup, finding the net frequently and securing his position as a key player at PSV Eindhoven. Unfortunately, Ricardo Pepi faced a significant injury when he fractured his left forearm while scoring a goal.
This incident occurred in the 23rd minute during a 5-1 victory over Excelsior, where Pepi landed awkwardly as he scored.
PSV’s coach Peter Bosz remarked, “It didn’t look promising from the start, and in these moments, you wish to believe otherwise.”
Following his injury, Pepi was taken off the pitch and subsequently hospitalized. He underwent surgery on Sunday and will be sidelined for about two months, as confirmed by the club.
In an update on his Instagram, Pepi wrote, “Every aspect of the game… BRB,” accompanied by an hourglass emoji.
Boz added: “Pepi has been in excellent form and had a productive training camp, recovering well from the knee injury that kept him out last season. He’s gained confidence and found his rhythm again. This is extremely disappointing, especially considering he had a strong finish to last season. It’s tough for him, but it’s also a setback for us.”
Pepi managed to score in six of seven matches across all competitions, bringing his league tally to eight goals. In total, he has netted 11 times in 21 games.
PSV Eindhoven forward Ricardo Pepi injured during the match between PSV Eindhoven and Excelsior Rotterdam at Philips Stadium during the Friedenrotteri Eredivisie Season 2025-2026 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Marcel van Dorst/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
(NurPhoto, Getty Images)
With his increasing contributions on the pitch, Pepi was strongly positioned to attract attention from U.S. national team coach Mauricio Pochettino for the upcoming World Cup. While this injury will not automatically exclude him from the 26-man roster, it raises concerns about his availability for friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in late March—the last opportunity for preparation before selections in late May.
Given this lengthy recovery, Pepi will not only have to reclaim his starting role but also work hard to restore his scoring touch.
American right-back Serginho Dest played full-time as PSV extended their lead over Feyenoord to 13 points.
England
Center-back Chris Richards and his team Crystal Palace have been struggling, with only nine wins since mid-December. On Saturday, things worsened as they fell 2-1 to Sixth Division Macclesfield in the FA Cup third round.
The hosts, sitting 117 leagues below Palace, made history by being the first non-league team to eliminate the reigning FA Cup champions since 1908-09. Their coach is John Rooney, sibling of former superstar Wayne Rooney.
“Honestly, there’s no explanation for what we witnessed today,” commented Palace coach Oliver Glasner.
In cup matches, Anthony Robinson adapted to a wing-back role, helping Fulham secure a 3-1 win against Second Division Middlesbrough. Robinson assisted a goal from midfielder Aidan Morris in the 90th minute.
Midfielder Brenden Aaronson (who came in at the end) helped Leeds win 3-1 against Derby County in the second division.
Forward Haji Wright was part of Coventry City’s squad in a 1-0 loss to Stoke City, failing to score in his past 14 games since netting twice for the national team.
Forward Josh Sargent declined to play in Norwich City’s 5-1 cup victory over Walsall, citing transfer concerns as the reason for his absence. “This isn’t something we want, and there will be repercussions,” manager Philippe Clement said, hinting at discussions that will need to occur at the club about Sargent’s future amid interest from Toronto FC.
Italy
Forward Christian Pulisic played the full match as AC Milan drew 1-1 with Fiorentina, remaining in second place in Serie A. However, he hasn’t scored in three consecutive matches.
Midfielder Yunus Musa made an impact by coming on in the 67th minute during Atalanta’s 2-0 victory against Torino—marking their third consecutive clean sheet.
Midfielder Weston McKennie had a standout performance for Juventus, contributing a goal in their 5-0 win over Cremonese, keeping their unbeaten streak alive.
Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann found his team Cesena on a three-match winless streak after a 1-0 loss to Empoli, leaving them in sixth position in Serie B.
Germany
Wing-back Joe Scally scored the first goal since October 2023 in Mönchengladbach’s 4-0 triumph over Augsburg.
Since joining from New York City FC in 2021, he’s netted three league goals and a total of four. Gio Reyna was substituted in the 85th minute, and defender Noah Okafor played the full match for Augsburg.
Midfielder Malik Tillman was on the pitch for 90 minutes during Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-1 home defeat to Stuttgart, where they managed to score from a penalty.
Forward Damion Downs made his debut for Hamburg with a subdued performance, playing 78 minutes in their 2-1 loss to Freiburg.
A match involving St. Pauli and RB Leipzig was postponed due to heavy snowfall in Hamburg, while US midfielder James Sands was inactive.
Winger Kevin Paredes returned from a five-month injury absence, starting the match against Bayern Munich, which resulted in an 8-1 defeat for Wolfsburg.
Left winger John Tolkien and Holstein Kiel will continue competing in the second division after the winter break.
France
In the French Cup Round of 32, forward Folarin Balogun scored during Monaco’s 3-1 victory against Third Division Orleans, tallying eight goals in all competitions this season.
Center-back Mark McKenzie captained Toulouse in their 1-1 draw, eventually winning on penalties (6-5) after missing his first attempt.
In another cup match featuring top league clubs, midfielder Tanner Tessman contributed to Olympique Lyonnais’ 2-1 victory over Lille.
Winger Tim Weah and Olympique de Marseille are set to face sixth-tier Bayeux in their cup match on Tuesday.
Others
Center-back Auston Trusty played the entire match for Celtic, who had a decisive 4-0 victory over Dundee United.
Midfielder Johnny Cardoso and Atlético Madrid had a day off after being eliminated by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals.
Winger Alex Zendejas missed Club America’s 0-0 draw against Tijuana on the Liga MX Clausura season’s opening day for what appears to be an injury.
As soccer fans, this news underscores the unpredictable nature of sports and how injuries can dramatically alter a player’s trajectory, especially ahead of crucial tournaments like the World Cup. Pepi’s situation not only affects his chances of representing the U.S. but also highlights the ongoing challenges athletes face in maintaining peak performance amid physical threats.
