Camilo Vargas

Camilo Andrés Vargas Gil (born 9 March 1989) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Liga MX club Atlas and the Colombia national team.

Vargas began his career with Independiente Santa Fe, winning two Categoría Primera A titles and the Copa Colombia in 2009, before moving to Atlético Nacional in 2015. After loan spells with Argentinos Juniors in Argentina and Deportivo Cali in Colombia, he joined Cali permanently and later transferred to Atlas F.C. in 2019. With Atlas he ended a 70-year title drought, leading the club to the Liga MX Apertura 2021, the Clausura 2022, and the Campeón de Campeones, while earning recognition as one of the league’s top goalkeepers with two Best XI selections, the Golden Glove, the Balón de Oro for the 2021–22 season, and inclusion in the 2022 MLS All-Star Game.

At international level, Vargas made his senior debut for Colombia in 2014 in a friendly against El Salvador. He was named in Colombia’s squads for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Copa América, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, without making an appearance. Vargas was also part of the squad at the 2019 Copa América, again as an unused substitute. He earned his first tournament start at the 2021 Copa América, playing in the third-place play-off against Peru, where Colombia secured the bronze medal. By the 2024 Copa América, Vargas had established himself as Colombia’s starting goalkeeper, featuring throughout the tournament as the team finished runners-up.

At the age of 16, Camilo Vargas joined the youth teams of Independiente Santa Fe. Camilo joined the first team and made his debut as a professional footballer with Independiente Santa Fe on March 11, 2007, in the game against La Equidad at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo, a match for the Colombian Apertura Tournament. Vargas entered the field in the final minutes, replacing Oscar Castro in Santa Fe's 2-1 victory. Camilo continued with the first team, but also alternated with the reserve team. In 2009, Camilo won his first professional title when Independiente Santa Fe won the 2009 Copa Colombia. In the 2010 Copa Colombia, Vargas qualified Santa Fe against Real Cartagena. On September 11, the 260th Bogotá Classic was played between Santa Fe and Millonarios. He had a good match, saving a penalty and keeping the score at 0-0. That year he played 7 games, and little by little he was demonstrating his qualities as a goalkeeper.

In 2011, Camilo had more opportunities to save in both the local league and the Copa Sudamericana. He would confirm his good form when on November 23, 2011, the penultimate date of the Torneo Finalización, in the 265th derby, a corner kick was awarded in the last minute, in favor of Santa Fe. Vargas left his goalkeeping position and headed past the Millonarios defense to score the winning goal for his club. He became the man of the match. Camilo Vargas began to show himself and demonstrate that he was ready to be a starter in Independiente Santa Fe. In 2012, Camilo achieved one of his goals by being champion of the Torneo Apertura, earning the seventh star for the Cardinals, and becoming one of the key figures in the team that ended a 36-and-a-half-year drought without winning a league title. Thanks to the championship won in 2012, he played in the 2013 Superliga Colombiana against their local rival, Millonarios, champion of the Torneo Finalización. Two matches are played in this tournament at the beginning of the year. Santa Fe, with Camilo Vargas in goal, won the series, getting off to a great start in 2013. That year, Camilo Vargas was instrumental in Santa Fe reaching the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, following strong performances in the tournament and being chosen as the man of the match twice. That year, he also began to be considered by José Néstor Pékerman to become part of the Colombian senior national team, thanks to his strong performances in the league and in the Libertadores.

In 2014, Vargas reached the peak of his professional career, becoming a figure and idol among the Santa Fe fans thanks to his strong performances in Santa Fe. He was also included on the list of 23 Colombian players who went to play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. After the World Cup, Camilo made his debut with the national team and reached his peak with Independiente Santa Fe, being figure in almost every match he played in the red and white jersey. In addition, in the final four, Vargas scored another goal, a penalty kick, against Atlético Huila on November 22, 2014; that goal would help Santa Fe reach the final of the Torneo Finalización. In the second leg of the final against Deportivo Independiente Medellín, Camilo prevented the Paisa team from taking the title. Thus, Camilo Vargas became one of the fans' greatest idols, and with his outstanding performance he managed to earn the Cardinals' eighth star. In January 2015, in a highly controversial development, Camilo Vargas' transfer to Atlético Nacional was confirmed.

In January 2015, Vargas signed with Atlético Nacional after nearly a decade with Santa Fe. Competition for the starting goalkeeper position was intense, and Vargas struggled to secure a regular place in the first team due to the presence of Franco Armani, who was the established starter.

Although he made appearances in league and cup matches, Vargas spent much of his time at Nacional as a backup option. To gain more playing time, the club arranged several loan moves for him during his contract period, most notably abroad in Argentina.