Juan Pablo Vargas
Vargas with Deportes Tolima in 2019
Personal information
Full name Juan Pablo Vargas Campos[1]
Date of birth (1995-06-06) 6 June 1995[1]
Place of birth Sarchí, Costa Rica
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Millonarios
Number 5
Youth career
Alajuelense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Alajuelense 6 (0)
2016–2017 Jacó Rays 0 (0)
2016–2017 → Belén (loan) 34 (4)
2017–2020 Herediano 29 (3)
2018–2019 → Deportes Tolima (loan) 17 (0)
2020 → Millonarios (loan) 25 (1)
2021– Millonarios 106 (4)
International career‡
2018 Costa Rica U21 3 (0)
2017– Costa Rica 19 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 July 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 July 2023

Juan Pablo Vargas Campos (born 6 June 1995) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Categoría Primera A club Millonarios and the Costa Rica national team.[2][3]

Club career

Alajuelense

Born in Sarchí, Alajuela, Vargas came through the academy at Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and was promoted to the main squad by coach Óscar Ramírez on 30 May 2013, along with the other youth Ronald Matarrita and Steve Garita.[4] He made his first team debut in the 2013 Costa Rican Cup on 7 July, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–1 away loss against UCR; four days later he scored his first professional goal, netting his team's last in a 3–1 home win against the same opponent.[5]

Vargas was mainly a backup option during the following years, only making his league debut on 18 February 2015 by starting in a 2–1 home loss against Limón.[6] During the 2015–16 season, he only featured in five matches.

Herediano

Loan to Belén and transfer controversy

On 8 June 2016, Vargas signed a contract with Herediano, and was immediately loaned to Belén for the entire 2016–17 season.[7] In September, former side Alajuelense complained about his transfer to Herediano, after his federative rights were assigned to Jacó Rays before his loan to Belén;[8] Alajuelense and Herediano only reached an agreement in June 2017, after Alajuelense was assured 50% of a transfer to any foreign club.[9]

In December 2016, Vargas went on a trial at Ascenso MX side Lobos BUAP,[10] but nothing came of it. He was an undisputed starter for Belén during the season, scoring four goals in 34 league appearances.

Breakthrough

In May 2017, Vargas returned to Herediano.[11] A backup option during the 2017 Apertura, he became a first-choice during the 2018 Clausura; his side finished second in both tournaments, losing both in the Finals.

Loan to Deportes Tolima

On 1 August 2018, Vargas moved abroad and joined Categoría Primera A side Deportes Tolima on loan.[12] He failed to make an appearance during the remainder of the year,[13] and only made his debut for the club on 23 January 2019, replacing Luis González late into a 2–1 away win over Atlético Junior, for the year's Superliga Colombiana.[14]

Vargas became a regular starter for Tolima before suffering a knee injury in July 2019,[15] which kept him out for nearly three months. He left the club in December, after his loan expired.[16]

Millonarios

On 3 January 2020, Vargas joined Millonarios on loan for the year.[17] On 30 December, after being regularly used, he was bought outright and signed a permanent three-year contract with the club.[18]

Vargas has achieved great form playing for Millonarios and has been called the best defender playing in the Colombian league, with some tongue-in-cheek comparisons with Lionel Messi after an assist in a 4–1 win against Cortuluá.[19] Vargas played as Millionarios reached the final of the Copa Colombia in September 2022.[20]

International career

Vargas made his senior Costa Rica debut at the 2017 Copa Centroamericana, playing in a 3–0 win over Belize on 15 January 2017.[21] He scored his first goal for the national team in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the United States, netting the opener in a 2–0 victory on 30 March 2022.[22]

In November 2022, Vargas was named to Costa Rica's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[23] He made his debut in the competition on 1 December, starting in a 4–2 loss to Germany where he scored the second goal for his country.[24]

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 July 2023[3]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Alajuelense 2013–14 Liga FPD 0021——21
2014–15 1000——10
2015–16 5010——60
Total 6031——91
Belén 2016–17 Liga FPD 34400——344
Herediano 2017–18 Liga FPD 293002[lower-alpha 1]0—313
Deportes Tolima 2018 Categoría Primera A 0000——00
2019 170102[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0210
Total 170102010210
Millonarios 2020 Categoría Primera A 211004[lower-alpha 4]0—251
2021 35020——370
2022 332502[lower-alpha 2]0—402
2023 192009[lower-alpha 5]0—282
Total 108570150—1305
Career total 194121111901022513
  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. ↑ Appearance(s) in Superliga Colombiana
  4. ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  5. ↑ Four appearances in Copa Libertadores, five appearances in Copa Sudamericana

International

As of 27 July 2023[25]
National team Year Competitive Friendly Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Costa Rica 2017100010
2018001010
2019002020
2020001010
2022821092
2023610061
Total 15340203

International goals

Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Juan Pablo Vargas
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.30 March 2022Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica United States1–02–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.1 December 2022Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar Germany2–12–42022 FIFA World Cup
3.4 July 2023Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States Martinique3–16–42023 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honours

Millonarios

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Costa Rica (CRC)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 7. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas". Major League Soccer.
  3. 1 2 Juan Pablo Vargas at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Alajuelense presentó tres nuevos valores para el torneo de Invierno" [Alajuelense presented three new players for the Winter tournament] (in Spanish). La Nación. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Alajuelense saca la tarea ante la UCR y avanza en el Torneo de Copa" [Alajuelense do their homework against UCR and go further in the Torneo de Copa] (in Spanish). La Nación. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Limonenses volvieron a festejar en el Morera Soto tres años después" [The Limonenses throw a party at the Morera Soto three years later] (in Spanish). La Nación. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Herediano le quita a Alajuelense al juvenil Juan Pablo Vargas" [Herediano take away the youngster Juan Pablo Vargas from Alajuelense] (in Spanish). La Nación. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Alajuelense reclama fichaje anómalo de Juan Pablo Vargas" [Alajuelense complain about abnormal signing of Juan Pablo Vargas] (in Spanish). La Nación. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "La Liga lima asperezas con Herediano y llega a un acuerdo por Juan Pablo Vargas" [Liga end differences with Herediano and reach an agremeent for Juan Pablo Vargas] (in Spanish). Everardo Herrera. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas va a prueba a México" [Juan Pablo Vargas goes on trial to Mexico] (in Spanish). La Nación. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas llega a reforzar la defensa del Herediano" [Juan Pablo Vargas arrives to bolster the defense of Herediano] (in Spanish). CRHoy. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "El costarricense Juan Pablo Vargas, nuevo fichaje del Deportes Tolima" [Costa Rican Juan Pablo Vargas, new signing of Deportes Tolima] (in Spanish). El País. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "El extraño paso de Juan Pablo Vargas por Colombia lo tiene lleno de elogios y con tres meses esperando el debut" [The curious stint of Juan Pablo Vargas in Colombia has a lot of praise and three months waiting for the debut] (in Spanish). La Nación. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas debutó en Colombia con el Tolima por la final de la Superliga" [Juan Pablo Vargas debuted in Colombia with Tolima in the final of the Superliga] (in Spanish). Everardo Herrera. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Confirmada lesión de Juan Pablo Vargas, tras el doblete amistoso del DEPORTES TOLIMA frente al Huila" [Confirmed injury of Juan Pablo Vargas, after the double friendly of DEPORTES TOLIMA against Huila] (in Spanish). El Rincón. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  16. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas no sigue en el Tolima de Colombia" [Juan Pablo Vargas does not continue at Colombia's Tolima] (in Spanish). Everardo Herrera. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas, nuevo defensa de Millonarios" [Juan Pablo Vargas, new Millonarios defender] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Millonarios adquirió los derechos deportivos de Juan Pablo Vargas" [Millonarios acquired the sporting rights of Juan Pablo Vargas] (in Spanish). Millonarios FC. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas "dressed up as Messi" and distributed an extraordinary assistance in Colombia". futbolcentoamerica.com.
  20. ↑ "Costa Rica: Juan Pablo Vargas one step away from making history with Millionaires in Colombia". futbolcentroamerica.com.
  21. ↑ "Copa Centroamericano Belize vs. Costa Rica". worldfootball.com.
  22. ↑ Sierra, Julian (30 March 2022). "VIDEO: El tremendo golazo de cabeza de Juan Pablo Vargas que tiene a Costa Rica ganándole a USA" [VIDEO: The great header goal from Juan Pablo Vargas who have Costa Rica defeating USA] (in Spanish).
  23. ↑ "Suarez names Costa Rica squad for Qatar 2022". FIFA.com. 3 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas tuvo un debut agridulce en los Mundiales, en Costa Rica vs. Alemania" [Juan Pablo Vargas had a bittersweet debut in the World Cup, in Costa Rica vs. Germany]. Caracol Televisión (in Spanish). GOL. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  25. ↑ "Juan Pablo Vargas". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Repretel : Juan Pablo Vargas salió campeón de copa con Millonarios" [Repretel: Juan Pablo Vargas won the cup with Millonarios]. Repretel (in Spanish). 2 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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