Who is Ruben Vargas? Current Club, Salary, Personal Life; Know Everything About the Swiss Star Who Helped Knock Out Italy from Euro 2024

Switzerland advanced to the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 by defeating defending champions Italy 2-0 in the Round of 16 clash. Ruben Vargas scored the second goal for the Swiss early in the second half to take Switzerland to only their second-ever Euro quarterfinal.

But who is Ruben Vargas? Let us take a closer look at the 25-year-old’s journey to Europe’s biggest stage.

Early Life

Ruben Vargas was born in Adligenswil, Switzerland. His father is from the Dominican Republic and his mother hails from Switzerland. He grew up playing multiple sports like football, baseball, tennis, and golf.

His parents divorced each other when Vargas was still a little boy resulting in him having to work at construction sites to meet his needs. From a very young age, Vargas was influenced by his role model Stephan Lichsteiner.

Club Career

Stephan Lichsteiner had a significant impact on Vargas’ career as both hailed from the same village. Vargas started his career with his hometown club FC Adligenswil. Just a year later, he moved to Luzern.

Although Vargas lacked physicality, multitasking between being a footballer, painter and construction worker made him mentally strong.

Gerardo Seoane, his youth coach, encouraged him to take football as his career and built his team around him. Seoane moved to Young Boys and wanted to take Vargas with him but Lucerne rejected the transfer offer.

In the 2018/19 season, Vargas scored eight goals along with eight assists that earned him a move to the Bundesliga. He scored for Augsburg in only his second appearance against Union Berlin. In the following weekend against Werder Bremen, he scored a brace to announce himself to football fans around the world. He went on to score six goals and two assists in his first season in Germany.

Vargas also played alongside his role model Stephan Lichsteiner in the 2019 season who joined Augsburg in 2019.

International Career

Vargas made his international debut in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Gibraltar. He was named in Switzerland’s Euro 2020 squad where he famously scored in a penalty shootout to knock France out of the competition.

In Euro 2024, he again proved his worth by scoring a goal against Italy to knock them out of the competition.

Current Club And Salary

Vargas still plays his club football in Germany with Augsburg. In the 2023-24 season, he scored 4 goals and assisted another 4 in his 32 appearances in Bundesliga.

According to Salary Report, Ruben Vargas earns £20,000 per week while playing for Augsburg as an attacking midfielder. His net worth is £2,966,080 and his current contract with the German club expires June 30, 2025.