The unveiling of 22 Under 22 presented by BODYARMOR is around the corner, and one Sounders player is projected to be the top-ranked young talent in the league due to his impeccable presence in the midfield.
Voted by panelists from MLS staff and MLS Season Pass talent, 22 Under 22 consists of young players who are making their mark in the league. In the lead up to the finalized 2025 list, MLS columnist Matthew Doyle highlighted midfielder Obed Vargas in his latest article as his favorite contender for the prestigious annual award.
Doyle described Vargas as a player who is "fantastic at basically everything a modern No. 8 has to do."
"He reads the game exceptionally well; he’s calm on the ball under pressure; he knows how to add value off the ball; he doesn’t break the team’s shape hunting touches; he knows how to suffer defensively; he's an incisive, if not quite game-breaking passer," Doyle said of Vargas.
From supporting the Sounders toward their first Concacaf Champions Cup title in 2022 at only 16-years-old, to now making strong performances against the best-of-the-best in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and Leagues Cup, the Mexican international is well on his way to becoming one of the top midifielders in MLS.
Vargas has started in 38 of his 38 appearances in 2025, tallying four goals and five assists across all competitions for the Rave Green. And there's still more to come as he prepares for the U-20 FIFA World Cup with Mexico.
