Kenneth Gerardo Vargas Vargas (born 17 April 2002) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Herediano, on loan from club Heart of Midlothian and the Costa Rica national team.
Vargas played for Municipal Grecia on loan from C.S. Herediano. After returning to Herediano, he scored on his senior league debut for the club, against Grecia, on 15 January 2022. He went on to score 10 goals in 41 appearances in the Liga FPD, the Costa Rican first division, in 2022.
On 7 August 2023, Vargas joined Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian on a season-long loan deal from Herediano, with an option to purchase outright.
Vargas was permanently signed by Hearts on 26 March 2024 on a five-season contract.
On 17 September 2025, Vargas returned to Herediano on loan until January 2026. Heredia was willing to pay only 6% of his salary loan from Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian. Due to the disagreement on his salary and personal growth, Vargas decided signed with Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, since the club was able to afford 100% of his salary and growth opportunities with the club's training camp CAR.
Capped at under-23 level, Vargas received his first call-up to the Costa Rica senior national team in 2021. In October 2022 he was again called up to the national team set-up but didn't make an appearance from the substitute bench.
His father, also called Kenneth Vargas and nicknamed âÂÂHuevoâÂÂ, was a professional footballer in Costa Rica who played as a striker. Kenneth Vargas Jnr is subsequently nicknamed âÂÂHuevitoâÂÂ.
Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.