The first two games of Ricardo Pepi's professional soccer career couldn't have gone much better.
With four goals across that span with North Texas SC, the highly touted FC Dallas prospect is off to a flying start. Now, the dual-national has set goals for 2019 which include starring on the US youth national team scene.
"My goal is to keep on scoring, have at least 25 goals, and I want to play for the national team at the U17s," Pepi told Bret Bloomquist of the El Paso Times. "As I get more experience, I want to keep on learning, improving on little things, making my strong things a little better. Just grind every day."
Pepi, 16, is eligible for both the United States and Mexico, but said he's focused fully on the red, white and blue. This fall's U17 World Cup in Brazil is a major reason why.
"I've never been (to Brazil)," Pepi said. "I'm looking forward to going and fighting for my country. ... The U.S. gave me better opportunities. I played U16s with both, the U.S. brought me up to the U17s. They showed more interest in me and my development."
