Alenis Vargas

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vargas and the second or maternal family name is Valentin.
Alenis Vargas
Personal information
Full name Waldir Alenis Vargas Valentin[1]
Date of birth (2003-12-04) 4 December 2003
Place of birth San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
 SJK
Number 70
Youth career
2019–2020 Academia Leones
2020–2022 Olimpia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Fútbol Consultants
2023 → Sporting Kansas City II (loan) 22 (7)
2024 Sporting Kansas City 20 (2)
2025– SJK 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 June 2025

Waldir Alenis Vargas Valentin (born 4 December 2003) is a Honduran professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Veikkausliiga club SJK Seinäjoki.

Early life

Vargas was born and raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.[2] He did not begin playing football competitively until he was 16-years-old. In 2019, Vargas joined Academia Internacional de Fútbol Leones (Lions International Football Academy), a footballing academy based in San Pedro Sula. A year later, he joined the youth setup of Olimpia, the most successful club in Honduras.[3][4] He spent a majority of the time there training with the senior squad, but never made an official appearance.

Club career

In 2022, Vargas signed with Costa Rican club Fútbol Consultants in the second-tier. During the latter half of the year, he had tryouts at Costa Rican clubs Saprissa and Cartaginés.[5]

On 18 April 2023, he signed for Sporting Kansas City II, the reserve side of Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City, on a year-long loan.[6] He made his MLS Next Pro debut the following 23 April in a 3–2 away defeat against FC Cincinnati 2, assisting Pau Vidal for the first goal.[7] Vargas would score his first goal for Kansas City II on 2 July, the 5th goal in the 7–1 home routing of Whitecaps FC 2.[8] The following 13 August, he would score a hat-trick in 6–1 home win against Portland Timbers 2.[9]

On 15 December 2023, Sporting Kansas City officially acquired Vargas permanently from Fútbol Consultants, promoting him to the senior squad.[10] On 2 February 2024, he made his MLS debut in a 1–1 draw with the Houston Dynamo, coming off the bench in the 86th minute.[11] On 8 June, Vargas scored the game-winning goal in the 85th minute in a 2–1 victory over Seattle Sounders.[12] After finishing the season with two goals in 20 appearances, Vargas was waived by the club in 21 February 2025.[13]

On 21 March 2025, Finnish club SJK Seinäjoki announced the signing of Vargas on a two-year deal with an option to extend for a further year.[14] The following 28 April, he scored his first goal in Veikkausliiga, in a home match against Haka at the OmaSP Stadion.

International career

Vargas was first called up to the Honduras national football team for 2024 Copa América qualifying play-offs.[15]

Style of play

Vargas mainly operates as a striker. He is known for his strength.[16]

Career statistics

As of 28 April 2025[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sporting Kansas City II (loan) 2023 MLS Next Pro 21 6 – – – – 21 6
2024 MLS Next Pro 1 1 – – – – 1 1
Total 22 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 7
Sporting Kansas City 2024 MLS 20 2 0 0 – 0 0 2[c] 0 22 2
SJK Seinäjoki 2025 Veikkausliiga 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 5 1
Career total 24 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 27 2
  1. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Suomen Cup
  2. ^ Includes Finnish League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

References

  1. ^ a b Alenis Vargas at Soccerway
  2. ^ Gutiérrez, Omar. "¿Cuánto ganaba en Olimpia? El legionario Alenis Vargas revela los equipos que lo dejaron ir y confiesa: "Pensé en emigrar"" (in Spanish). diez.hn.
  3. ^ "Alenis Vargas a cumplir su sueño en la selección" (in Spanish). diariomas.hn.
  4. ^ Alenis Vargas; SportingKC.com; Retrieved June 6, 2025
  5. ^ "Oficial: Sampedrano Alenis Vargas es fichado por equipo de la MLS" [Official: Sampedrano Alenis Vargas is signed by an MLS team] (in Spanish). La Prensa. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  6. ^ Honduran forwards Keny Martínez and Alenis Vargas are Loaned to Sporting Kansas City II; WeareFC.club; Retrieved June 6, 2025
  7. ^ RECAP | FC Cincinnati 2 claim three points against Sporting Kansas City II in five-goal thriller; FCCincinnati.com; Retrieved June 6, 2025
  8. ^ Recap: Sporting KC II wipes out Whitecaps FC 2 7-1 at Rock Chalk Park; SportingKC.com; Retrieved June 6, 2025
  9. ^ "Exjugador de Olimpia se despacha histórico hat-trick en la MLS" [Former Olimpia player scores a historic hat-trick in MLS] (in Spanish). Televicentro. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  10. ^ Sperry, Daniel (15 December 2023). "Sporting Kansas City signs forward Alenis Vargas to three-year MLS contract, per club". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Alenis Vargas debuta con el Sporting Kansas en jornada inaugural de la MLS, ¿cuál dorsal le asignaron?" [Alenis Vargas makes his debut with Sporting Kansas in the opening matchday of the MLS, which number was assigned to him?] (in Spanish). Diario Diez. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  12. ^ Sofascore. "Sporting Kansas City vs Seattle Sounders FC live score, H2H and lineups | Sofascore". www.sofascore.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  13. ^ Sporting KC waives forward Alenis Vargas; SportingKC.com; Retrieved June 7, 2025
  14. ^ "Alenis Vargas vahvistamaan SJK-hyökkäystä" [Alenis Vargas to strengthen the SJK attack] (in Finnish). SJK Seinäjoki. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  15. ^ "No se esperaba: Alenis Vargas se confiesa y revela qué le dijo Ruela" (in Spanish). laprensa.hn.
  16. ^ "Alenis Vargas, el joven hondureño que figura en el Kansas City II: "Wanchope dijo que le recordaba a él"" (in Spanish). elheraldo.hn.
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