Ricky Lopez-Espin

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ricky Lopez-Espin

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|12|2}}

| birth_place = Miami, Florida, United States

| height = {{convert|1.90|m|abbr=on}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| collegeyears1 = 2014–2017

| college1 = Creighton Bluejays

| collegecaps1 = 74

| collegegoals1 = 30

| years1 = 2016

| clubs1 = Lane United

| caps1 = 4

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2017

| clubs2 = Tampa Bay Rowdies U23

| caps2 = 2

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2018

| clubs3 = Real Salt Lake

| caps3 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2018

| clubs4 = → Real Monarchs (loan)

| caps4 = 8

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2019

| clubs5 = Lansing Ignite

| caps5 = 8

| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2020

| clubs6 = Fort Lauderdale CF

| caps6 = 16

| goals6 = 7

| totalcaps = 39

| totalgoals = 11

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| medaltemplates =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Ricky Lopez-Espin (born December 2, 1995) is an American former soccer player.

Career

=College=

Lopez-Espin spent his entire college career at Creighton University. He made a total of 74 appearances for the Bluejays and tallied 30 goals and 7 assists.{{cite web |url=https://gocreighton.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3892 |title=Ricky Lopez-Espin - 2017 |website=gocreighton.com}} During his senior year at Creighton, he was named USC First Team All-Great Lakes Region, Big East Conference Player of the Year, and First Team All-Big East Conference.

While at college, Lopez-Espin played for Premier Development League sides Lane United and Tampa Bay Rowdies U23.{{cite web |url=https://www.uslpdl.com/ricky-lopez-espin |title=Ricky Lopez-Espin |website=USL PDL}}

=Professional=

On January 19, 2018, Lopez-Espin was selected 33rd overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by the Real Salt Lake.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2018/01/19/real-salt-lake-selects-creighton-university-forward-ricky-lopez-espin|title=Real Salt Lake selects Creighton University forward Ricky Lopez-Espin | Real Salt Lake}}

On March 24, he made his professional debut for Salt Lake's USL affiliate club Real Monarchs, appearing as an 85th-minute substitute in a 3–2 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks.{{cite web |url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/tulsaroughnecksfc-realmonarchsslc-971240 |title=2018 - Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs Real Monarchs SLC - uslsoccer.com |website=www.uslsoccer.com}}

Lopez-Espin was released by Salt Lake at the end of their 2018 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/11/27/real-salt-lake-declines-option-longtime-defender-tony-beltran|title=Real Salt Lake declines option on longtime defender Tony Beltran | MLSsoccer.com}} On December 12, 2018, Lopez-Espin was selected by Los Angeles FC in the MLS Waiver Draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/12/marco-urena-among-four-players-selected-2018-waiver-draft|title=Marco Ureña among four players selected in 2018 Waiver Draft | MLSsoccer.com}}

On March 21, 2019, Lopez-Espin signed for Lansing Ignite. On June 26, 2019, Lopez and Lansing mutually terminated his contract.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-06-27 |title=LIFC, Lopez-Espin Mutually Agree to Part Ways |url=https://www.lansingignite.com/news_article/show/1031475-lifc-lopez-espin-mutually-agree-to-part-ways |access-date=2019-06-28 |website=Lansing Ignite |language=en-us}}

Lopez-Espin spent a single season in USL League One with Fort Lauderdale CF during their 2020 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1156907|title=2021 Season Preview: Fort Lauderdale CF|date=April 13, 2021}}