Latif Blessing

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Latif Blessing
Personal information
Full nameLatif Atta Blessing
Date of birth (1996-12-30) 30 December 1996 (age 29)
Place of birthAccra, Ghana
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1]
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
Lexington SC
Number30
Youth career
2013–2014Liberty Professionals
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2014–2016Liberty Professionals21(17)
2017Sporting Kansas City25(3)
2017→ Swope Park Rangers1(1)
2018–2022Los Angeles FC145(14)
2023New England Revolution15(0)
2023–2024Toronto FC5(0)
2023Toronto FC II1(0)
2024Houston Dynamo27(5)
2025–Lexington SC5(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 October 2025

Latif Atta Blessing (born 30 December 1996) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Lexington SC in the USL Championship.

Early life

[edit]

Blessing was born in Nankese, a small village in the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District of southeast Ghana.

Club career

[edit]

Ghana

[edit]

In 2013, Latif Blessing joined the Liberty Professionals youth team in Accra.[2] He was soon promoted to the senior club for the Ghana Premier League but mainly appeared on the bench for the side.[2] Blessing received particularly good reviews for his performance during a Premier League match against Asante Kotoko on 21 June 2015. In that match, he scored in the 21st minute to equalize before providing two assists, leading Liberty Professionals to a 3–1 victory.[3]

During the 2016 season, Blessing scored six goals in his first eight games.[2] After his hat-trick on the final day of the season against Bechem United, Blessing would go on to finish the season as the top scorer in the league with 17 goals.[4] His performance during the season was recognized in December 2016 when Blessing won the best player of the league award by the Ghana Football Association.[5]

Major League Soccer

[edit]

In January 2017, Blessing signed with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.[6][7] He made his MLS debut on 11 March 2017 against FC Dallas.[8] On 24 March 2017, Blessing was loaned to Swope Park Rangers, scoring in their match against OKC Energy FC.[9][10] Blessing's first MLS goals came in a brace on 13 May 2017 in a 2–2 draw in Orlando versus Orlando City SC.[11] On 20 September 2017, Blessing scored in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final, as Sporting Kansas City won the 2017 U.S. Open Cup.[12]

In December 2017, Blessing was selected by Los Angeles FC with the second selection of the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft. He made his debut for the club as a starter in their first MLS match, a 1–0 victory at Seattle Sounders FC.

On January 3, 2023, Blessing was acquired by the New England Revolution for $400,000 in GAM for Los Angeles FC.[13]

In July 2023, he was traded to Toronto FC for Mark-Anthony Kaye.[14]

In March 2024, he was traded to Houston Dynamo FC for $75,000 in 2025 GAM and up to $200,000 in conditional 2025 GAM.[15]

On 25 August 2025, Blessing joined USL Championship side Lexington SC.[16]

International career

[edit]

Blessing was included in the provisional squad for Ghana before the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, but failed to make the final cut.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2017, Blessing obtained a U.S. green card allowing him to qualify as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[18] However, in 2023, as part of the process to bring his family over via a visa, he had to give up his green card and reapply under a visa status, returning him to counting as an international player.[19][20]

Blessing's brother, Ibrahim Fuseini, currently plays for Lori FC in the Armenian Premier League.[21] He has a twin sister, Latifa.[22]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 21 October 2023[23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupPlayoffsContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liberty Professionals2016Ghanaian Premier League2117————2117
Sporting Kansas City2017Major League Soccer2535310——316
Swope Park Rangers (loan)2017USL11————11
Los Angeles FC2018Major League Soccer3054210——357
20193463020——396
2020211—105121293
2021302————302
20223003000——330
Total1451410240512116618
New England Revolution2023Major League Soccer15010———160
Toronto FC2023Major League Soccer50———2070
Toronto FC II (loan)2023MLS Next Pro10————10
Career total2123516550514124242

Honours

[edit]

Sporting Kansas City

Los Angeles FC

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Latif Blessing". Los Angeles FC. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "A Shamo Quaye of our time". pulse.com. Pulse. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Liberty fight back to defeat Kotoko in Dansoman". modernghana.com. Modern Ghana. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Latif Blessing wins Ghana Premier League goal king". ghanaweb.com. Ghana Web. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  5. ^ Abayateye, Michael (18 December 2016). "Latif Blessing wins Best Player of the Year at GFA/PLB Awards". primenewsghana.com. Prime News Ghana. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  6. ^ Kovzan, Sam (9 January 2017). "Sporting KC acquires 20-year-old winger Latif Blessing in transfer from Ghana". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Sporting KC: preso Rwatubyaye, lavoro di scout all'italiana" [Sporting KC: Rwatubyaye, Italian Scout Job]. mlssocceritalia.com (in Italian). MLS Soccer Italia. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  8. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Sporting KC held to 0-0 draw with FC Dallas in 2017 home opener". Sporting Kansas City.
  9. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Swope Park Rangers adds five players on loan from Sporting Kansas City". Sporting Kansas City.
  10. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Rangers open 2017 season with 3-1 comeback win". Sporting Kansas City.
  11. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Latif Blessing's brace steers Sporting KC to 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC". Sporting Kansas City.
  12. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Sporting KC crowned Open Cup champions with 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls". Sporting Kansas City.
  13. ^ "LAFC Acquires $400,000 In General Allocation Money From New England In Exchange For Latif Blessing". Los Angeles FC. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Toronto FC acquire Latif Blessing and an international slot in exchange for Mark-Anthony Kaye". Toronto FC. 13 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Toronto FC trade Latif Blessing to Houston Dynamo FC for GAM". Toronto FC. 14 March 2024.
  16. ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (25 August 2025). "Lexington SC signs veteran midfielder Latif Blessing". USL Championship.
  17. ^ "Ghana Premier League best player Latif Blessing dropped from Africa Cup of Nations squad". Ghana Soccer Net. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Forward Latif Blessing obtains green card, no longer occupies international spot on Sporting KC roster". SportingKC.com. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  19. ^ Vazquez, Randy (13 June 2023). "He came from Ghana to play soccer, but left his family behind. With help from the Revolution, they were finally reunited". Boston Globe.
  20. ^ Pongratz, Caleb [@CalebPongratz10] (10 July 2023). "Revolution midfielder Latif Blessing no longer occupies a green card and occupies an international roster slot" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Ghanaian youngster Ibrahim Fuseini joins Armenian side Lori FC". kickgh.com. Kick GH. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Latif Blessing | Los Angeles Football Club". Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  23. ^ Latif Blessing at Soccerway
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Latif_Blessing&oldid=1319542103"

    Latif Blessing
    Personal information
    Full nameLatif Atta Blessing
    Date of birth (1996-12-30) 30 December 1996 (age 29)
    Place of birthAccra, Ghana
    Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1]
    Position(s)
    Team information
    Current team
    		Lexington SC
    Number30
    Youth career
    2013–2014Liberty Professionals
    Senior career*
    YearsTeamApps(Gls)
    2014–2016Liberty Professionals21(17)
    2017Sporting Kansas City25(3)
    2017→ Swope Park Rangers1(1)
    2018–2022Los Angeles FC145(14)
    2023New England Revolution15(0)
    2023–2024Toronto FC5(0)
    2023Toronto FC II1(0)
    2024Houston Dynamo27(5)
    2025–Lexington SC5(0)
    * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 October 2025

    Latif Atta Blessing (born 30 December 1996) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Lexington SC in the USL Championship.

    Early life

    Blessing was born in Nankese, a small village in the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District of southeast Ghana.

    Club career

    Ghana

    In 2013, Latif Blessing joined the Liberty Professionals youth team in Accra.[2] He was soon promoted to the senior club for the Ghana Premier League but mainly appeared on the bench for the side.[2] Blessing received particularly good reviews for his performance during a Premier League match against Asante Kotoko on 21 June 2015. In that match, he scored in the 21st minute to equalize before providing two assists, leading Liberty Professionals to a 3–1 victory.[3]

    During the 2016 season, Blessing scored six goals in his first eight games.[2] After his hat-trick on the final day of the season against Bechem United, Blessing would go on to finish the season as the top scorer in the league with 17 goals.[4] His performance during the season was recognized in December 2016 when Blessing won the best player of the league award by the Ghana Football Association.[5]

    Major League Soccer

    In January 2017, Blessing signed with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.[6][7] He made his MLS debut on 11 March 2017 against FC Dallas.[8] On 24 March 2017, Blessing was loaned to Swope Park Rangers, scoring in their match against OKC Energy FC.[9][10] Blessing's first MLS goals came in a brace on 13 May 2017 in a 2–2 draw in Orlando versus Orlando City SC.[11] On 20 September 2017, Blessing scored in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final, as Sporting Kansas City won the 2017 U.S. Open Cup.[12]

    In December 2017, Blessing was selected by Los Angeles FC with the second selection of the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft. He made his debut for the club as a starter in their first MLS match, a 1–0 victory at Seattle Sounders FC.

    On January 3, 2023, Blessing was acquired by the New England Revolution for $400,000 in GAM for Los Angeles FC.[13]

    In July 2023, he was traded to Toronto FC for Mark-Anthony Kaye.[14]

    In March 2024, he was traded to Houston Dynamo FC for $75,000 in 2025 GAM and up to $200,000 in conditional 2025 GAM.[15]

    On 25 August 2025, Blessing joined USL Championship side Lexington SC.[16]

    International career

    Blessing was included in the provisional squad for Ghana before the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, but failed to make the final cut.[17]

    Personal life

    In 2017, Blessing obtained a U.S. green card allowing him to qualify as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[18] However, in 2023, as part of the process to bring his family over via a visa, he had to give up his green card and reapply under a visa status, returning him to counting as an international player.[19][20]

    Blessing's brother, Ibrahim Fuseini, currently plays for Lori FC in the Armenian Premier League.[21] He has a twin sister, Latifa.[22]

    Career statistics

    As of match played 21 October 2023[23]
    Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
    ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupPlayoffsContinentalOtherTotal
    DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    Liberty Professionals2016Ghanaian Premier League2117————2117
    Sporting Kansas City2017Major League Soccer2535310——316
    Swope Park Rangers (loan)2017USL11————11
    Los Angeles FC2018Major League Soccer3054210——357
    20193463020——396
    2020211—105121293
    2021302————302
    20223003000——330
    Total1451410240512116618
    New England Revolution2023Major League Soccer15010———160
    Toronto FC2023Major League Soccer50———2070
    Toronto FC II (loan)2023MLS Next Pro10————10
    Career total2123516550514124242

    Honours

    Sporting Kansas City

    Los Angeles FC

    References

    1. ^ "Latif Blessing". Los Angeles FC. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
    2. ^ a b c "A Shamo Quaye of our time". pulse.com. Pulse. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
    3. ^ "Liberty fight back to defeat Kotoko in Dansoman". modernghana.com. Modern Ghana. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
    4. ^ "Latif Blessing wins Ghana Premier League goal king". ghanaweb.com. Ghana Web. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
    5. ^ Abayateye, Michael (18 December 2016). "Latif Blessing wins Best Player of the Year at GFA/PLB Awards". primenewsghana.com. Prime News Ghana. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
    6. ^ Kovzan, Sam (9 January 2017). "Sporting KC acquires 20-year-old winger Latif Blessing in transfer from Ghana". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
    7. ^ "Sporting KC: preso Rwatubyaye, lavoro di scout all'italiana" [Sporting KC: Rwatubyaye, Italian Scout Job]. mlssocceritalia.com (in Italian). MLS Soccer Italia. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
    8. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Sporting KC held to 0-0 draw with FC Dallas in 2017 home opener". Sporting Kansas City.
    9. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Swope Park Rangers adds five players on loan from Sporting Kansas City". Sporting Kansas City.
    10. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Rangers open 2017 season with 3-1 comeback win". Sporting Kansas City.
    11. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Latif Blessing's brace steers Sporting KC to 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC". Sporting Kansas City.
    12. ^ City, Sporting Kansas. "Recap: Sporting KC crowned Open Cup champions with 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls". Sporting Kansas City.
    13. ^ "LAFC Acquires $400,000 In General Allocation Money From New England In Exchange For Latif Blessing". Los Angeles FC. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
    14. ^ "Toronto FC acquire Latif Blessing and an international slot in exchange for Mark-Anthony Kaye". Toronto FC. 13 July 2023.
    15. ^ "Toronto FC trade Latif Blessing to Houston Dynamo FC for GAM". Toronto FC. 14 March 2024.
    16. ^ Staff, USLChampionship com (25 August 2025). "Lexington SC signs veteran midfielder Latif Blessing". USL Championship.
    17. ^ "Ghana Premier League best player Latif Blessing dropped from Africa Cup of Nations squad". Ghana Soccer Net. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
    18. ^ "Forward Latif Blessing obtains green card, no longer occupies international spot on Sporting KC roster". SportingKC.com. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
    19. ^ Vazquez, Randy (13 June 2023). "He came from Ghana to play soccer, but left his family behind. With help from the Revolution, they were finally reunited". Boston Globe.
    20. ^ Pongratz, Caleb [@CalebPongratz10] (10 July 2023). "Revolution midfielder Latif Blessing no longer occupies a green card and occupies an international roster slot" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    21. ^ "Ghanaian youngster Ibrahim Fuseini joins Armenian side Lori FC". kickgh.com. Kick GH. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
    22. ^ "Latif Blessing | Los Angeles Football Club". Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
    23. ^ Latif Blessing at Soccerway
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Latif_Blessing&oldid=1319542103"