 Vargas playing forChile in 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eduardo Jesús Vargas Rojas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1989-11-20)20 November 1989 (age 35) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Santiago, Chile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward,winger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Nacional | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Internacional de Renca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Deportes Puerto Montt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Cobreloa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Cobreloa B | 12 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Cobreloa | 54 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Universidad de Chile | 55 | (18) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Napoli | 19 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | →Grêmio (loan) | 18 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | →Valencia (loan) | 17 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | →Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 21 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | TSG Hoffenheim | 29 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2020 | Tigres UANL | 120 | (29) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2024 | Atlético Mineiro | 117 | (26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Nacional | 5 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Chile U23 | 6 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009– | Chile | 120 | (45) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 March 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eduardo Jesús Vargas Rojas (Spanish pronunciation:[eˈðwaɾðoˈβaɾɣas];[i] born 20 November 1989) is a Chilean professionalfootballer who plays as aforward for Uruguayan clubNacional and theChile national team.
Emerging as a top talent atCobreloa, Vargas moved toUniversidad de Chile where he won three titles, including the2011 Copa Sudamericana, where he was namedplayer of the tournament. In 2011, he was co-awarded theChilean Footballer of the Year and also finished as runner-up for theSouth American Footballer of the Year. Following an £11.5 million move toNapoli, Vargas had subsequent loan spells atGrêmio,Valencia andQueens Park Rangers before moving toTSG Hoffenheim in 2015.
A full international since 2010, Vargas has earned120 caps for Chile, scoring over 40 goals. He was part of their squad at the2014 FIFA World Cup, the2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, and theCopa América in2015,2016,2019,2021 and2024. He would finish as top scorer in Chile's title-winning 2015 and 2016 Copa América campaigns.
Born inSantiago, Vargas grew up inRenca, and began his career playing for Internacional de Renca's youth setup.[2] He also had trials atUniversidad Católica andPalestino before taking part ofDeportes Puerto Montt's youth categories. In 2005, he was invited to a reality show headed byAdidas, calledAdidas Selection Team, and despite not winning the competition,[3] he impressed enough to start the 2006 pre-season trialling withPuerto Rico Islanders, as the club was in Chile.[4]
In 2006, Vargas was signed byCobreloa after impressing in a ten-day trial.[5] Initially assigned to the B-team in theTercera División, he scored twice during his stay, netting againstUniversidad Arturo Prat[6] andSan Marcos de Arica in August.[7]
Vargas made his first team debut on 23 July 2006, aged just 16, playing the last 20 minutes in a 4–1 away loss against Puerto Montt.[8] He appeared in three more matches duringthe season, all from the bench. After only five further appearances in 2007, he became a regular starter in 2008,[9] scoring his first professional goal on 16 March in a 3–2 home defeat ofPalestino.[10] On 30 August, he scored a brace in a 4–3 away win against the same opponent.[11]
Vargas established himself as a starter in 2009, contributing with four goals in 23 appearances.
On 7 January 2010, Vargas joinedUniversidad de Chile for aUS$700,000 transfer fee.[12] He made his debut for the club on 25 January, replacingGabriel Vargas and scoring the last in a 5–1 home routing ofCobresal.[13]
Vargas only broke into the first team during the2011 campaign, and had a brilliant performance during the year, scoring 29 goals and providing in 51 matches.[14] He also won both league semestral tournaments (Torneo Apertura andTorneo Clausura), as well as theCopa Sudamericana, where he was the edition's top-scorer and netted goals inboth final legs againstLDU Quito, scoring the only goal atCasa Blanca and twice in the 3–0 win at theEstadio Nacional in Santiago.[15]
Vargas was chosen as a candidate forSouth American Footballer of the Year in November 2011, eventually placing as runner-up toNeymar.[16] Then in December, Vargas was con-decorated as theChilean Footballer of the Year.
In December 2011, Italian clubNapoli purchased the player for a reported US$17.9 million (£11.5 million).[17] On 23 December 2011, Napoli club presidentAurelio De Laurentiis, announced Vargas would arrive at the club: "I would like to inform you officially that we purchased Vargas, a few minutes ago I received a call from Dr. De Nicola, who visited the footballer and gave his okay under medical and athletic profile. We signed the contract and we also won the competition by strong Club who wanted the player. This is the testimony that our observatory is always open and we are continuously looking for young talents in the world that can make the case of Napoli and for the growth of our team."[18] Vargas arrived at Napoli on 6 January 2012 and signed on 9 January.[19] He made his debut in a 2–1Coppa Italia defeat ofCesena at theStadio San Paolo on 12 January.[20] On 20 May, he was an unused substitute as Napoli defeatedJuventus in theCoppa Italia Final at theStadio Olimpico.
On 20 September 2012, in the first match of Napoli'sUEFA Europa League campaign, Vargas scored his first Napoli goals, netting three in a 4–0 victory againstAIK.[21] This was the first time that a Chilean player had scored ahat-trick in a continental competition in Europe.
On 17 January 2013, Vargas agreed to go on loan to Brazilian sideGrêmio.[22] He made his first appearance six days later in aCopa Libertadores match against LDU Quito. He scored his first goal on 21 February againstFluminense in the Copa Libertadores. On 31 March, he scored his first goal in theCampeonato Gaúcho, converting a penalty at theArena do Grêmio in a 1–1 draw withPasso Fundo.
On 23 January 2014, Vargas joinedLa Liga clubValencia on loan for the rest of the2013–14 season.[23] Vargas played his first official match forLos Che in a 3–2 away win atCamp Nou against championsBarcelona on 1 February 2014. He scored his first La Liga goal againstReal Betis, in a 5–0 home win.[24]
Vargas recorded two goals and three assists in eight appearances as Valencia reached the semi-finals of the2013–14 UEFA Europa League.[25]
On 21 August 2014, Vargas joinedQueens Park Rangers on loan until the end of the2014–15Premier League season.[26] He made his debut for the club on 14 September againstManchester United, replacingCharlie Austin for the last 31 minutes atOld Trafford.[27] On 19 October, in a 2–3 loss againstLiverpool atLoftus Road, Vargas scored twice after coming on as a substitute forBobby Zamora in the 78th minute.[28] On 26 December, in a 2–1 loss toArsenal, Vargas helped his goalkeeperRobert Green save an early penalty fromAlexis Sánchez by pointing out which way his fellow Chilean was likely to shoot the ball.[29]
On 22 March 2015, Vargas scored his first goal in five months in QPR's 1–2 home defeat toEverton.[30] He also scored in the team's 4–1 victory atWest Bromwich Albion on 4 April, but injured his knee ligament in that match, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.[31] The season ended with QPR finishing bottom of the league, resulting in their relegation to theChampionship.
On 24 August 2015, Vargas joined GermanBundesliga club1899 Hoffenheim on a four-year deal, for a reported fee of €5 million, plus an additional percentage of any sell-on fee.[32][33]
On 27 January 2017,Liga MX clubTigres UANL announced Vargas would be joining the club.[34] On 16 July 2017, he scored in the 1–0 victory overGuadalajara in the2017 Campeón de Campeones.
Vargas played the final against Tigres' archrival:CF Monterrey. In the first leg the teams drew 1–1 at theEstadio Universitario. In theEstadio BBVA Bancomer, Tigres beat Monterrey 2–1. Vargas andFrancisco Meza scored.
On 9 November 2020, Vargas joinedAtlético Mineiro on a two-year contract.[35]
In January 2025, Vargas moved to Uruguay and signed withNacional.[36]
In 2009, Vargas participated in theToulon Tournament with theChile under-23 national team, where he was champion and the team's second top goalscorer. On 5 November 2009, he made his full international debut for thesenior team in a 2–1 win overParaguay at theEstadio CAP.[37]
In 2011, Vargas was recalled and scored his first goal in a 3–2 friendly defeat toSpain on 2 September.[38] On 12 October, he scored his first competitive international goal in a 4–22014 FIFA World Cup qualifying win overPeru at theEstadio Monumental.[39]
In September 2013, Vargas broke the Chile national team record for goals in consecutive matches – previously held jointly byMarcelo Salas andCarlos Caszely – by scoring twice in a 2–2 friendly draw with Spain.[15] During 2013, he scored in six consecutive matches and nine times overall forLa Roja.[15]
On 1 June 2014, Vargas was named byJorge Sampaoli in Chile's 23-man squad for the2014 World Cup in Brazil.[40] In Chile's second group match, against defending champions Spain at theMaracanã Stadium, Vargas scored the team's opening goal as they mathematically eliminated Spain and secured qualification to theknockout stage.[41]
On 11 June 2015, Vargas scored for Chile in the opening match of the2015 Copa América, a 2–0 win overEcuador at theEstadio Nacional in Santiago.[42] In the team's next fixture, Vargas scored his second goal of the tournament, heading an equalizer as the hosts drew 3–3 withMexico on 15 June.[43] In the semi-final against Peru, Vargas scored both goals in a 2–1 victory for Chile, the second of which was a long-distance effort, to sendLa Roja tothe final. Although Vargas was substituted out in extra time, Chile won in apenalty shootout againstArgentina to win their first major international honour.[44] Vargas' four goals made him the competition's joint top scorer alongside PeruvianPaolo Guerrero, and he was named in the Team of the Tournament.[45]
On 14 June 2016, at theCopa América Centenario, Vargas and Alexis Sánchez scored twice each in a 4–2 win overPanama inPhiladelphia to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament.[46] Four days later, he added four more goals atLevi's Stadium in a 7–0 rout of Mexico.[47] Chile retained their title with another win on penalties against Argentina, and Vargas was again the top scorer with six goals.[48]
Despite his previous successes with the national team, Vargas, along withMarcelo Díaz, fell out of favour following the appointment ofReinaldo Rueda in 2018 and made only a single friendly appearance for Chile in the year.[49]
Vargas was included in Chile's 23-man squad for the2019 Copa América in Brazil. He scored twice againstJapan in a 4–0 win for Chile's opening match.[50]
Vargas scored two goals in the2021 Copa América, one each against Argentina andUruguay, which both ended in a 1–1 draw. On 2 July 2021, Vargas played his 100th match for Chile in a 1–0 defeat againstBrazil in the quarter-finals.[51]
| Club | Season | League | State league[a] | National cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cobreloa B | 2006 | Chilean Tercera División | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 2 | ||||
| Cobreloa | 2006[9] | Chilean Primera División | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2007[9] | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| 2008 | 21 | 4 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 4 | |||||
| 2009 | 24 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 7 | |||||
| Total | 54 | 10 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 57 | 11 | |||||
| Universidad de Chile | 2010 | Chilean Primera División | 18 | 1 | — | — | 10[c] | 2 | — | 28 | 3 | |||
| 2011 | 37 | 17 | — | 2 | 1 | 12[d] | 11 | — | 51 | 29 | ||||
| Total | 55 | 18 | — | 2 | 1 | 22 | 13 | — | 79 | 32 | ||||
| Napoli | 2011–12 | Serie A | 10 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | 9 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6[f] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Total | 19 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |||
| Grêmio (loan) | 2013 | Série A | 18 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10[g] | 2 | — | 37 | 9 | |
| Valencia (loan) | 2013–14 | La Liga | 17 | 3 | — | — | 8[f] | 2 | — | 25 | 5 | |||
| Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2014–15 | Premier League | 21 | 3 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 3 | |||
| TSG Hoffenheim | 2015–16 | Bundesliga | 24 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 2 | |||
| 2016–17 | 5 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 29 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||||
| Tigres UANL | 2016–17 | Liga MX | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6[h] | 2 | — | — | 18 | 4 | ||
| 2017–18 | 41 | 10 | — | 1 | 0 | 4[h] | 2 | 1[i] | 1 | 47 | 13 | |||
| 2018–19 | 34 | 11 | — | 5 | 4 | 8[h] | 2 | 2[j] | 0 | 49 | 17 | |||
| 2019–20 | 19 | 4 | — | 0 | 0 | 2[h] | 1 | 4[k] | 1 | 25 | 6 | |||
| 2020–21 | 14 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Total | 120 | 29 | — | 6 | 4 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 153 | 42 | |||
| Atlético Mineiro | 2020 | Série A | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | ||||
| 2021 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 11[g] | 3 | — | 43 | 13 | |||
| 2022 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7[g] | 0 | 1[l] | 0 | 39 | 6 | ||
| 2023 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7[g] | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2024 | 23 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6[g] | 1 | — | 38 | 9 | |||
| Total | 91 | 20 | 26 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 167 | 33 | ||
| Nacional | 2025 | Uruguayan Primera División | 5 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 441 | 95 | 32 | 7 | 36 | 9 | 98 | 30 | 8 | 2 | 615 | 143 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 9 | |
| 2014 | 12 | 7 | |
| 2015 | 13 | 7 | |
| 2016 | 14 | 7 | |
| 2017 | 15 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 12 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 120 | 45 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2 September 2011 | AFG Arena,St. Gallen, Switzerland |  Spain | 2–0 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 2. | 12 October 2011 | Estadio Monumental,Santiago, Chile |  Peru | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 6 February 2013 | Vicente Calderón,Madrid, Spain |  Egypt | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 4. | 26 March 2013 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile |  Uruguay | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 24 April 2013 | Mineirão,Belo Horizonte, Brazil |  Brazil | 2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 6. | 7 June 2013 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco,Asunción, Paraguay |  Paraguay | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7. | 11 June 2013 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile |  Bolivia | 1–0 | 3–1 | |
| 8. | 6 September 2013 |  Venezuela | 1–0 | 3–0 | ||
| 9. | 10 September 2013 | Stade de Genève,Geneva, Switzerland | Spain | 1–0 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 10. | 2–1 | |||||
| 11. | 19 November 2013 | Rogers Centre,Toronto, Canada | Brazil | 1–1 | 1–2 | |
| 12. | 30 May 2014 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile | Egypt | 2–2 | 3–2 | |
| 13. | 3–2 | |||||
| 14. | 4 June 2014 | Estadio Elías Figueroa,Valparaíso, Chile |  Northern Ireland | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
| 15. | 18 June 2014 | Maracanã Stadium,Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Spain | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup |
| 16. | 10 October 2014 | Estadio Elías Figueroa, Valparaíso, Chile | Peru | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 17. | 3–0 | |||||
| 18. | 15 November 2014 | Estadio CAP,Talcahuano, Chile | Venezuela | 3–0 | 5–0 | |
| 19. | 11 June 2015 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile |  Ecuador | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2015 Copa América |
| 20. | 15 June 2015 |  Mexico | 2–2 | 3–3 | ||
| 21. | 29 June 2015 | Peru | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2015 Copa América | |
| 22. | 2–1 | |||||
| 23. | 8 October 2015 | Brazil | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 24. | 13 October 2015 | Estadio Nacional,Lima, Peru | Peru | 2–2 | 4–3 | |
| 25. | 4–2 | |||||
| 26. | 14 June 2016 | Lincoln Financial Field,Philadelphia, United States |  Panama | 1–1 | 4–2 | Copa América Centenario |
| 27. | 2–1 | |||||
| 28. | 18 June 2016 | Levi's Stadium,Santa Clara, United States | Mexico | 2–0 | 7–0 | Copa América Centenario |
| 29. | 4–0 | |||||
| 30. | 5–0 | |||||
| 31. | 6–0 | |||||
| 32. | 15 November 2016 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile | Uruguay | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 33. | 13 June 2017 | Cluj Arena,Cluj-Napoca, Romania |  Romania | 1–0 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 34. | 18 June 2017 | Otkrytiye Arena,Moscow, Russia |  Cameroon | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 35. | 5 October 2017 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile | Ecuador | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 36. | 6 June 2019 | Estadio La Portada,La Serena, Chile |  Haiti | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 37. | 17 June 2019 | Estádio do Morumbi,São Paulo, Brazil |  Japan | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2019 Copa América |
| 38. | 4–0 | |||||
| 39. | 14 June 2021 | Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |  Argentina | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2021 Copa América |
| 40. | 21 June 2021 | Arena Pantanal,Cuiabá, Brazil | Uruguay | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| 41. | 22 March 2024 | Stadio Ennio Tardini,Parma, Italy |  Albania | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 42. | 11 June 2024 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile | Paraguay | 3–0 | 3–0 | |
| 43. | 10 September 2024 | Bolivia | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 44. | 10 October 2024 | Brazil | 1–0 | 1–2 | ||
| 45. | 19 November 2024 | Venezuela | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Universidad de Chile[52]
Napoli[52]
Tigres UANL
Atlético Mineiro
Chile U20
Chile
Individual
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}:|author= has generic name (help)
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