On July 15, it was announced that Sounders FC midfielder Obed Vargas would be added to the 2025 MLS All-Star roster by MLS All-Star Head Coach Nico Estévez.
“He's a tremendous talent,” said Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “Happy for Obed and well deserved.”
Held in Austin, Texas, Vargas will be competing alongside the best-of-the-best in Major League Soccer in a 90-minute showdown against Liga MX’s top players on July 23. Additionally, the Alaska native will be participating in the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge the night prior to the match.
“I'm super proud and excited to take advantage of that opportunity,” said Vargas.
It is a full circle moment for the midfielder, who, just four years ago today, was in the exact same city, making his debut with the Seattle Sounders First Team.
“It means that my career is headed in the right way,” said Vargas. “Ever since I debuted, I wanted to be getting better every day and help the team and win trophies. [And] every year I think I've gotten better.”
Since supporting the team to a 1-0 victory over Austin FC in 2021, Vargas has stepped into a larger role on the Sounders side, serving as a consistent starter with his ability to play-make in the attack and lockdown opposition. So much so, he’s earned one of the highest individual recognitions in the league as an All-Star.
“He's versatile in different spots. He can play a little deeper. His actual runs from a deeper position are very effective. He can also play in the pockets,” said Schmetzer. “He's got good enough technical ability [where] you see him wiggle out of things. And what I mean by wiggle is he receives the ball and he turns all in one motion. There's a lot of simple things to his game that people appreciate, and it helps the team go forward.
“Then, because we can't forget about the defending side of things, he and Cristian \[Roldan\] cover a lot of ground,” continued Schmetzer. “So, defensively, he does a good job. That's a big reason for our success.”
Vargas' selection is not only a reflection of his consistent performances during the 2025 season, but his hard-fought journey to reach this moment beginning as a young player in Anchorage, Alaska. Despite the odds being stacked against him, the midfielder signed a First Team contract as a teenager, has already made 114 all-competition appearances with the club, won a Concacaf Champions League title, and made his senior debut with the Mexico National Team at only 19-years-old.
Now, he has the opportunity to showcase his talents on a stage featuring world-renowned players like Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Monterrey’s Sergio Ramos at Q2 Stadium tomorrow night.
An experience of a lifetime, his Sounders teammates who participated in All-Star matches in years past reminded him to just enjoy the moment.
“I talked with Cristian, Alex \[Roldan\], Nouhou, all those guys told me to enjoy, to play free. Just have fun,” said Vargas.
And he intends to do exactly that.
“I’m excited to play. Excited to see the atmosphere in the stadium. I think there's going to be a lot of people, you know, [so,] it's going to be a fun game.”
