Zurich, May 30: As Switzerland prepare for their sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup campaign, winger Ruben Vargas is ready to take on greater responsibility following the departure of long-serving national team icons Xherdan Shaqiri and Yann Sommer.

The 27-year-old Sevilla forward believes the World Cup remains the pinnacle of football and is eager to help guide Switzerland into a new era.
"There's no greater stage than the World Cup," Vargas said in an interview with FIFA, recalling how he grew up watching the tournament on television before eventually fulfilling his own dream of playing on football's biggest stage.Born to a Dominican father, Vargas initially tried baseball, the national sport of the Dominican Republic, before discovering his passion for football. Despite facing challenges due to his slight build during his youth, he persevered and developed into one of Switzerland's most influential attacking players.Before establishing himself as a professional footballer, Vargas balanced training with work as a painter and decorator between the ages of 16 and 18. He described the experience as one of the most important periods of his life, providing him with the motivation to pursue a career in football."It gave me huge motivation to put everything into becoming a footballer," Vargas said. (Agencies)