Obed Gómez Vargas

Obed Gómez Vargas is an American central midfielder born in Anchorage on 5 August 2005. He developed in Alaska before joining the Seattle Sounders academy in 2019, a move that accelerated his path into professional football. Vargas made his Seattle first-team debut in 2021 and became one of MLS’s youngest players to start a match. In 2022, he stepped into midfield during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final after João Paulo’s injury, helping the Sounders defeat Pumas UNAM 3–0. Initially used as a holding midfielder, Vargas developed into a more dynamic player who combines ball retention, tempo control and defensive work with progressive passing and occasional long-range shooting. After representing the United States at youth level, including the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, he switched allegiance to Mexico and made his senior debut against the United States in October 2024. He later joined Atlético Madrid, continuing his progression in Europe.