Kerwin Andrés Calderón Vargas

Kerwin Calderón Vargas made his mark in Charlotte FC's history with a single strike: in the Wild Card round of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, he beat New York Red Bulls with a scissor kick, the first goal Charlotte FC had ever scored in the play-offs. Charlotte lost the match 5-2.

He grew up in Santa Marta, having moved there from his native Concordia at the age of three. His route into professional football ran through Portugal, where CD Feirense gave him his debut in July 2021. In the 2021/22 Liga Portugal 2 season he scored seven goals in 28 appearances, and Charlotte FC signed him in May 2022 for €1.9m, one of the club's moves under MLS's U22 Initiative.

His first season in North Carolina was modest, 13 appearances without a goal. He scored four goals and five assists in 2023, six goals in each of the next two seasons, and a regular place in Charlotte's squad through three consecutive play-off campaigns. In 2024 he was the team's leader for shots on target, with 62 across the season. He also found the net in Charlotte's 6-0 U.S. Open Cup win over Charlotte Independence in 2025.

Vargas has represented Colombia at Under-23 level, earning two caps. In July 2026 he left Charlotte FC for Club Athletico Paranaense in Brazil on a four-year contract, taking the number 18 shirt at his new club.