Future Watch: Latif Blessing Rookie Soccer Cards – LAFC – Every successful team has players who are willing to do what the club needs to win. LAFC has such a player in midfielder Latif Blessing. The Ghanaian has flourished under the tutelage and leadership of Bob Bradley, while displaying real versatility all over the pitch. Blessing has played all over the midfield as well as at the right back spot. One that is crucial in the Bradley offensive scheme.
Blessing came over to MLS with Sporting KC in 2017 before joining new side LAFC in the expansion draft before the 2018 season. In two full seasons for the Black and Gold, he has scored 11 goals and assisted on 12 others. His offensive game is very solid. He can score when given the opportunity and set up teammates with equal ease. His first touch is good and his vision and soccer knowledge are excellent.
Blessing’s defensive prowess and ball winning are first rate. His motor is relentless and he never seems to tire. He is fast and quick and plays well at speed. Blessing will attack the football defensively with an amazing mix of calm and tenacity. Once he secures the ball back for his side, he can immediately turn to making the best offensive play available.
Before coming to MLS, Blessing led his country’s top flight in scoring in the 2016 season with 17 goals and was named the Ghana Premier League Player of the Year. Despite all this, Blessing has yet to break through for the national side.
Even after accomplishing so much on the pitch already (Blessing is still just 23), there is plenty of upside left in his game. Blessing has a very bright future on the field.
Collectors can find cards of Latif Blessing in 2019 Topps MLS Soccer.
Future Watch: Latif Blessing Rookie Soccer Cards – LAFC – Stats
| Playing Time | Performance | Per 90 Minutes | Expected | Per 90 Minutes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Squad | Country | Comp | LgRank | MP | Starts | Min | Gls | Ast | PK | PKatt | CrdY | CrdR | Gls | Ast | G+A | G-PK | G+A-PK | xG | npxG | xA | xG | xA | xG+xA | npxG | npxG+xA | Matches |
| 2017 | 20 | Swope Park | us USA | 2. USL | 5th | 1 | 1 | 90 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | Matches | ||||||||
| 2017 | 20 | Sporting KC | us USA | 1. MLS | 11th | 25 | 16 | 1,420 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.19 | 0.06 | 0.25 | 0.19 | 0.25 | Matches | ||||||||
| 2018 | 21 | Los Angeles FC | us USA | 1. MLS | 5th | 30 | 18 | 1,808 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | 0.30 | 0.55 | 0.25 | 0.55 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 3.2 | 0.36 | 0.17 | 0.53 | 0.36 | 0.53 | Matches |
| 2019 | 22 | Los Angeles FC | us USA | 1. MLS | 1st | 34 | 29 | 2,691 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.20 | 0.10 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.40 | 0.20 | 0.40 | Matches |
| 2020 | 23 | Los Angeles FC | us USA | 1. MLS | 7th | 2 | 2 | 179 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.30 | 0.33 | 0.63 | 0.30 | 0.63 | Matches |
| 4 Seasons | 3 Clubs | 2 Leagues | 92 | 66 | 6,188 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0.22 | 0.15 | 0.36 | 0.22 | 0.36 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 10.0 | 0.26 | 0.20 | 0.46 | 0.26 | 0.46 | ||||
| Country | Comp | LgRank | MP | Starts | Min | Gls | Ast | PK | PKatt | CrdY | CrdR | Gls | Ast | G+A | G-PK | G+A-PK | xG | npxG | xA | xG | xA | xG+xA | npxG | npxG+xA | Matches | |||
| Los Angeles FC (3 Seasons) | 1 League | 66 | 49 | 4,678 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.21 | 0.17 | 0.38 | 0.21 | 0.38 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 10.0 | 0.26 | 0.20 | 0.46 | 0.26 | 0.46 | |||||
| Sporting KC (1 Season) | 1 League | 25 | 16 | 1,420 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.19 | 0.06 | 0.25 | 0.19 | 0.25 | |||||||||||||
| Swope Park (1 Season) | 1 League | 1 | 1 | 90 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |||||||||||||
| MLS (4 Seasons) | 91 | 65 | 6,098 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0.21 | 0.15 | 0.35 | 0.21 | 0.35 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 10.0 | 0.26 | 0.20 | 0.46 | 0.26 | 0.46 | ||||||
| USL (1 Season) | 1 | 1 | 90 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||||||||||||||
Future Watch: Latif Blessing Rookie Soccer Cards – LAFC – More Resources
- Latif Blessing Beckett Card Catalog
- ESPN.com Player Profile – Latif Blessing
- Latif Blessing – Secondary Market Pricing
Future Watch: Latif Blessing Rookie Soccer Cards – LAFC – Image Gallery
For more from Dave Denholm, follow him on Twitter @TalkSoccer.
Hosted afternoon sports talk show for two different Los Angeles sports talk stations. Pre/Post game radio host for various sports teams including the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, USC Football and UCLA basketball.
Currently on air at NBC sports radio, ESPN, Total Traffic & Weather Network and Fox sports.
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