1. Early Life
Camilo Andrés Vargas Gil was born on 9 March 1989 in Bogotá, Colombia. He stands at 73 in (185 cm) tall. Details regarding his childhood background and specific early influences that led him to pursue a career in football are not extensively documented in available sources.
2. Club Career
Camilo Vargas has had a distinguished club career playing for several prominent teams in both Colombian and Mexican football. His journey has been marked by periods of development and significant achievements, including multiple league titles.
2.1. Independiente Santa Fe
Vargas began his professional career with Santa Fe, where he played from 2007 to 2014. During his tenure at the club, he developed into a reliable goalkeeper and contributed significantly to the team's success. He was part of the squad that won the Categoría Primera A in both the 2012-I and 2014-II seasons. Additionally, he lifted the Copa Colombia in 2009 and the Superliga Colombiana in 2013 with Santa Fe, marking a successful start to his career.
2.2. Atlético Nacional and Loan Spells
After his time at Santa Fe, Vargas joined Atlético Nacional in 2015. With Atlético Nacional, he continued his success, winning the Categoría Primera A in the 2015-II season. During his contract with Atlético Nacional, Vargas also experienced several loan spells that provided him with further playing opportunities and experience. In 2016, he was loaned to Argentinos Juniors in Argentina, where he played a limited number of matches. Following this, he had a significant loan period with Deportivo Cali.
2.3. Deportivo Cali
Vargas's first loan spell at Deportivo Cali extended from July 2016 to July 2017. He then returned for another loan period during the 2018 season. His consistent performances led Deportivo Cali to redeem his purchase option, officially signing him on a permanent contract until 2021. During his time with Deportivo Cali, both on loan and permanently, Vargas solidified his reputation as a formidable goalkeeper.
2.4. Atlas F.C.
On 6 July 2019, Vargas was officially confirmed as a new player for Atlas in Liga MX, Mexico. He quickly established himself as an undisputed starter for the team. In 2021, Vargas played a pivotal role in Atlas's run to the Liga MX final against Club León. During the away leg of the final, he was partly responsible for an error that led to a goal for León. However, in the decisive home match, Vargas delivered a heroic performance, keeping a clean sheet throughout regulation and extra time. The match proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Vargas made two crucial saves, securing the victory for Atlas. This historic win ended the team's 70-year hiatus without a league title, cementing Vargas's legacy as a key player in this monumental achievement. His contributions were further recognized with two more league titles, the Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022, and the Campeón de Campeones in 2022.
3. International Career
Camilo Vargas has had a consistent and impactful international career with the Colombia national football team, featuring in multiple major tournaments and becoming a key figure in recent years.
3.1. Early Career and Debut
Vargas began to receive consistent call-ups to the Colombia national football team by manager José Pekerman as early as the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Although he was included in the final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he did not make an appearance during the tournament. His official debut for the national team came on 10 October 2014, in a friendly match against the El Salvador national football team at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, which Colombia won 3-0.
3.2. FIFA World Cup Participation
Vargas has been part of Colombia's squads for multiple FIFA World Cup tournaments. After being included in the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, he was again named in the preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and subsequently made the final 23-man roster, further solidifying his presence in the national team setup.
3.3. Copa América and Recent Performances
Vargas has been a prominent figure for Colombia in the Copa América. He was part of the squad that achieved a third-place finish in the 2021 Copa América. In the 2024 Copa América, Vargas served as the main goalkeeper for the team, playing every single match of the competition, where Colombia ultimately finished as runner-up. Since 2023, Vargas has been the undisputed starter for Colombia, serving as the primary goalkeeper throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification competition, highlighting his crucial role in the team's ongoing international campaigns.
4. Career Statistics
Camilo Vargas's career statistics reflect his longevity and consistent performance at both club and international levels.
4.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Santa Fe | 2007 | Categoría Primera A | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 0 | ||||
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 0 | ||||
| 2010 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 0 | ||||
| 2011 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2012 | 42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 47 | 0 | ||||
| 2013 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 0 | ||
| 2014 | 33 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | 46 | 1 | |||
| Total | 155 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 203 | 2 | ||
| Atlético Nacional | 2015 | Categoría Primera A | 18 | 0 | - | - | - | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 19 | 0 | - | - | - | 19 | 0 | |||||
| Argentinos Juniors (loan) | 2016 | Argentine Primera División | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Deportivo Cali (loan) | 2016 | Categoría Primera A | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 22 | 0 | |||
| Total | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 41 | 0 | |||
| Deportivo Cali (loan) | 2018 | Categoría Primera A | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 42 | 0 | |
| Deportivo Cali | 2019 | 21 | 1 | - | 4 | 0 | - | 25 | 1 | |||
| Total | 56 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | - | 67 | 1 | |||
| Atlas | 2019-20 | Liga MX | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2020-21 | 36 | 0 | - | - | - | 36 | 0 | |||||
| 2021-22 | 46 | 0 | - | - | - | 46 | 0 | |||||
| 2022-23 | 33 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2023-24 | 34 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||||
| 2024-25 | 14 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 190 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 201 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 466 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 540 | 3 | ||
4.2. International Statistics
| Colombia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 16 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 0 |
5. Honours
Camilo Vargas has amassed a significant collection of team and individual honours throughout his professional career, highlighting his success at both club and international levels.
5.1. Club Honours
- Independiente Santa Fe
- Categoría Primera A: 2012-I, 2014-II
- Copa Colombia: 2009
- Superliga Colombiana: 2013
- Atlético Nacional
- Categoría Primera A: 2015-II
- Atlas
- Liga MX: Apertura 2021, Clausura 2022
- Campeón de Campeones: 2022
5.2. International Honours
- Colombia
- Copa América Third Place: 2021
- Copa América Runner-up: 2024
5.3. Individual Honours
- Liga MX Best XI: Apertura 2021, Clausura 2022
- Liga MX Balón de Oro: 2021-22
- Liga MX Golden Glove: 2021-22
- Liga MX All-Star: 2022
6. Assessment and Legacy
Camilo Vargas is recognized as one of Colombia's most consistent and accomplished goalkeepers of his generation. His impact on the sport is evident through his key contributions to various clubs, particularly his pivotal role in breaking Atlas F.C.'s 70-year league title drought in Mexico. This achievement, combined with subsequent titles, cemented his status as a legendary figure for the club.
His long-standing presence and reliable performances for the Colombia national football team across multiple FIFA World Cup and Copa América campaigns underscore his importance on the international stage. Vargas's ability to perform under pressure, as demonstrated by his penalty shootout heroics, and his consistent selection as a starting goalkeeper for both club and country, highlight his high level of skill and professionalism. His individual accolades, including multiple Liga MX Best XI selections, the Golden Glove, and the Balón de Oro, further underscore his standing as a top-tier goalkeeper in North American football. Vargas's career is marked by a blend of consistent excellence, crucial interventions, and significant team achievements, leaving a notable legacy in Colombian and Mexican football.