The FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ provided a unique opportunity for footballers around the globe to fulfil lifelong ambitions by playing against their boyhood teams.
One such star was Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas, who was overcome with emotion in taking the field against Atletico Madrid at Lumen Field in the FIFA flagship tournament and meeting his idol Antoine Griezmann afterwards.
“Pleasure to meet you,” the France forward told Vargas before the pair swapped jerseys and had a warm embrace. “The pleasure is mine,” the beaming 20-year-old instantly replied.
Now Vargas and Griezmann will be team-mates after the Mexico midfielder sealed a move to the La Liga giants on European transfer deadline day. The promising Alaska native has signed a long-term deal with Atletico until 2030.
Prior to the Club World Cup, Vargas explained his love for Los Rojiblancos. “Atletico Madrid, they’re underdogs, all the time. And when I lived in Alaska, I started watching them, especially in the 2014 [UEFA] Champions League final,” Vargas told the Seattle Sounders website. “And, I think it correlates with my own story… 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.”
Vargas, who represented Mexico at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ and has three senior appearances, will hope his move to Europe will bolster his hopes of making El Tricolor’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ squad.
“Every time I’ve been in a camp, the coaching staff lets us know that we are in there for a reason. There is only a certain number of players that can make the roster, so if you are here it means you have a chance to make the World Cup roster,” he recently told ESPN. “They tell us to be healthy, be fit and be playing, that’ll give you the best chance of making the squad. So those are my goals this year, be healthy, be fit and be playing.”
