Matías Vargas (footballer, born 1997)

For other people named Matías Vargas, see Matías Vargas (disambiguation).

Martín Matías Ezequiel Vargas (born 8 May 1997), nicknamed Monito (in English: "Little Monkey"), is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Saudi Pro League side Al Fateh SC.

Matías Vargas

Vargas with Espanyol in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Martín Matías Ezequiel Vargas
Date of birth	(1997-05-08) 8 May 1997 (age 28)[1]
Place of birth	Salta, Argentina
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Al Fateh
Number	9
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2019	Vélez Sarsfield	69	(14)
2019–2022	Espanyol	42	(0)
2021–2022	→ Adana Demirspor (loan)	36	(5)
2022–2024	Shanghai Port	68	(14)
2025–	Al Fateh	20	(7)
International career‡
2019	Argentina U23	2	(1)
2018	Argentina	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 30 May 2021

Career

Vélez Sarsfield

Vargas started his professional career with Vélez Sarsfield under Miguel Ángel Russo's coaching, entering the field in a 0–0 draw with Colón for the 2015 Argentine Primera División.^[2]

His first game as a starter was against Defensa y Justicia for the 2016–17 Argentine Primera División under Omar De Felippe's coaching, in which he scored a goal to help his team to a 2–1 victory.^[3] He went on to play 16 games (13 as a starter) in the season, scoring four goals.

Espanyol

On 14 July 2019, Vargas joined La Liga side RCD Espanyol on a five-year deal,^[4] for a reported club record fee of €10.5 million.^[5] He made his competitive debut in Europa League third qualifying round as a substitute and also scored a goal in a 3–0 win against Luzern.^[6]

On 25 August 2021, Vargas was loaned to Turkish Süper Lig side Adana Demirspor, for one year.^[7]

Shanghai Port

On 24 August 2022, Espanyol transferred Vargas to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port for a fee of around £3.5 million.^[8]

On 27 December 2024, Shanghai Port announced that Vargas is leaving the club as a free agent. ^[9]

Al Fateh

On 8 January 2025, Vargas joined Saudi Pro League side Al Fateh for free.^[10]

International career

Vargas made his international debut for Argentina on 7 September 2018 in a 3–0 win against Guatemala.^[11]

Personal life

Vargas' father Omar, nicknamed Mono, was a former footballer who played for San Martín de Mendoza and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza, among other teams.^[12][13]

Career statistics

As of match played on 29 September 2023^[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vélez Sarsfield	2015	Argentine Primera División	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2016		2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2016–17		16	4	1	0	—		—		17	4
	2017–18		25	5	3	0	—		—		28	5
	2018–19		23	5	2	1	—		3	0	32	6
	Total		69	14	6	1	0	0	3	0	78	15
Espanyol	2019–20	La Liga	21	0	2	0	10	5	—		33	5
	2020–21	Segunda División	21	0	3	0	—		—		24	0
	Total		42	0	5	0	10	5	0	0	57	5
Adana Demirspor (loan)	2021–22	Süper Lig	36	5	2	0	—		—		38	5
Shanghai Port	2022	Chinese Super League	18	1	4	0	—		—		22	2
	2023		22	1	2	0	1	0	—		25	1
	Total		40	2	6	0	1	0	0	0	47	2
Career total			187	21	19	1	11	5	3	0	217	27

Honours

Espanyol

• Segunda División: 2020–21

Shanghai Port

• Chinese Super League: 2023, 2024
• Chinese FA Cup: 2024

Individual

• Süper Lig top assist provider: 2021–22