It was a dream come true for Obed Vargas to face his boyhood club at FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Now, he has taken that dream one step further with an opportunity few players ever achieve.
On Feb. 2, Vargas made the move to La Liga club Atlético de Madrid after spending the entirety of his professional journey thus far with the Seattle Sounders.
“The percentages of becoming a professional are so low. And then the percentages in that very small [pool] of people that get to play professionally, to play and sign contracts for these top clubs is even smaller,” said General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “So, it's mind numbing in the sense, like to the point where it's almost like elation for him as a young man and as a soccer player now.”
Following a star-studded career with the Rave Green, the midfielder begins his new professional chapter with the top flight Spanish club that he grew up admiring — a team defined by resilience, boasting 11 La Liga titles and reaching three UEFA Champions League Finals against the odds.
In an interview with SoundersFC.com prior to the Rave Green’s CWC matchup vs. the Spanish side in July, Vargas talked about his deep connection to the club since a young age with their motto “Coraje y Corazón” or “Courage and Heart.”
“I identify myself with that, coming from Alaska, of having to fight through moving, and an Academy team, second team, a national team…. I think it's been my mentality all the way through my career,” he said.
Vargas’ hunger to succeed has been a driving force for him since his arrival to the Sounders organization in 2019, paving the way to a fantasy fulfilled.
“When all the other teams would see my Alaska team [they’d think] ‘They're trash, we're gonna beat them.’ And I always had an underdog mentality, where I was going to show these guys that we're not that bad,” said Vargas. “Or even when I came with the Academy, my teammates were, like, ‘This guy's from Alaska, what is he doing here?’ And I [wanted] to show these guys I [was] better than them.”
From becoming one of the youngest players to sign to the First Team at only 16-years-old, to solidifying his spot as a starting midfielder in the hyper-talented position group three years later, it was clear Vargas was special. Throughout his five seasons with the First Team, he scored eight goals and 16 assists, all while playing a significant role in the team’s first-ever Concacaf Champions Cup (2022) and Leagues Cup titles (2025).
“It was an incredible ride from my debut in Austin to my debut at Lumen [Field], to winning Champions League to playing Messi in front of 70,000 people, winning Leagues Cup, it was just incredible, and I couldn't have imagined it any other way,” said Vargas.
But it was not until this past season, where he truly showcased what he is capable of. In addition to his competitive performances against top teams in CWC, the midfielder found himself in the No. 1 spot in MLS’ 22 Under 22 list, on the MLS All-Star roster and in a position for more opportunities with the Mexican National Team.
And now, after 130 appearances across all-competitions, the midfielder is ready for a new challenge, at the club that initially inspired him to push the envelope, no matter the circumstances.
“Credit goes to Obed for buying into what was being laid out, for accepting the challenges, for accepting the good and the bad that came over the last five, six years,” said Waibel. “He was able to grow here and now he's got to do it there.”
An exciting chapter awaits for Vargas, and he couldn’t be more grateful for those that guided him to this moment.
“I just want to say thank you to all the staff, to all my teammates, to all the people that helped me throughout this journey,” said Vargas. “They made my time in Seattle amazing. They took in a 14 year old boy and helped him grow.”
“Seattle will always have a special place in my heart,” he continued. “And I'll always be cheering the team from afar. So thank you to all of Seattle, and I wish you guys the best.”
