{{short description|Ghanaian footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Latif Blessing | image = | full_name = Latif Atta Blessing | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|12|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Accra, Ghana | height = {{height|ft=5|in=7}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Latif Blessing |url=https://www.lafc.com/players/latif-blessing/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |publisher=Los Angeles FC |archive-date=20 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820154732/https://www.lafc.com/players/latif-blessing/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | currentclub = Lexington SC | clubnumber = 30 | position = Attacking midfielder, winger | youthyears1 = 2013–2014 | youthclubs1 = Liberty Professionals | years1 = 2014–2016 | clubs1 = Liberty Professionals | caps1 = 21 | goals1 = 17 | years2 = 2017 | clubs2 = Sporting Kansas City | caps2 = 25 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 2017 | clubs3 = → Swope Park Rangers | caps3 = 1 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2018–2022 | clubs4 = Los Angeles FC | caps4 = 145 <!--REGULAR SEASON ONLY--> | goals4 = 14 | years5 = 2023 | clubs5 = New England Revolution | caps5 = 15 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2023–2024 | clubs6 = Toronto FC | caps6 = 5 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2023 | clubs7 = Toronto FC II | caps7 = 1 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2024 | clubs8 = Houston Dynamo | caps8 = 27 | goals8 = 5 | years9 = 2025– | clubs9 = Lexington SC | caps9 = 8 | goals9 = 0 | club-update = 9 May 2026 }}
'''Latif Atta Blessing''' (born 30 December 1996) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger 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.<ref name="Pulse">{{cite news|title=A Shamo Quaye of our time|url=http://pulse.com.gh/sports/features/latif-blessing-a-shamo-quaye-of-our-time-id4944583.html|accessdate=10 January 2017|website=pulse.com|publisher=Pulse|date=21 April 2016}}</ref> He was soon promoted to the senior club for the Ghana Premier League but mainly appeared on the bench for the side.<ref name="Pulse"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Liberty fight back to defeat Kotoko in Dansoman|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/625023/2/liberty-fight-back-to-defeat-kotoko-in-dansoman.html|accessdate=10 January 2017|website=modernghana.com|publisher=Modern Ghana|date=21 June 2015}}</ref>
During the 2016 season, Blessing scored six goals in his first eight games.<ref name="Pulse"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Latif Blessing wins Ghana Premier League goal king|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/league/Latif-Blessing-wins-Ghana-Premier-League-goal-king-470684|accessdate=10 January 2017|website=ghanaweb.com|publisher=Ghana Web|date=19 September 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Abayateye|first1=Michael|title=Latif Blessing wins Best Player of the Year at GFA/PLB Awards|url=http://www.primenewsghana.com/sports/latif-blessing-wins-best-player-of-the-year-at-gfa-plb-awards.html|accessdate=10 January 2017|website=primenewsghana.com|publisher=Prime News Ghana|date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
===Major League Soccer=== In January 2017, Blessing signed with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kovzan|first1=Sam|title=Sporting KC acquires 20-year-old winger Latif Blessing in transfer from Ghana|url=http://www.sportingkc.com/post/2017/01/09/sporting-kc-acquires-20-year-old-winger-latif-blessing-transfer-ghana|accessdate=10 January 2017|website=Sporting Kansas City|date=9 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssocceritalia.com/sporting-kc-preso-rwatubyaye-lavoro-di-scout-allitaliana/|title=Sporting KC: preso Rwatubyaye, lavoro di scout all'italiana|trans-title=Sporting KC: Rwatubyaye, Italian Scout Job|website=mlssocceritalia.com|language=it|publisher=MLS Soccer Italia|date=7 February 2019|accessdate=25 April 2020}}</ref> He made his MLS debut on 11 March 2017 against FC Dallas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/recap-sporting-kc-held-0-0-draw-fc-dallas-2017-home-opener|title=Recap: Sporting KC held to 0-0 draw with FC Dallas in 2017 home opener|first=Sporting Kansas|last=City|website=Sporting Kansas City}}</ref> On 24 March 2017, Blessing was loaned to Swope Park Rangers, scoring in their match against OKC Energy FC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/swope-park-rangers-adds-five-players-loan-sporting-kansas-city|title=Swope Park Rangers adds five players on loan from Sporting Kansas City|first=Sporting Kansas|last=City|website=Sporting Kansas City}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/recap-rangers-open-2017-season-3-1-comeback-win|title=Recap: Rangers open 2017 season with 3-1 comeback win|first=Sporting Kansas|last=City|website=Sporting Kansas City}}</ref> Blessing's first MLS goals came in a brace on 13 May 2017 in a 2–2 draw in Orlando versus Orlando City SC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/recap-latif-blessings-brace-steers-sporting-kc-2-2-draw-orlando-city-sc|title=Recap: Latif Blessing's brace steers Sporting KC to 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC|first=Sporting Kansas|last=City|website=Sporting Kansas City}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/recap-sporting-kc-crowned-open-cup-champions-2-1-win-over-new-york-red-bulls|title=Recap: Sporting KC crowned Open Cup champions with 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls|first=Sporting Kansas|last=City|website=Sporting Kansas City}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 3, 2023|title=LAFC Acquires $400,000 In General Allocation Money From New England In Exchange For Latif Blessing|url=https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-acquires-400-000-in-general-allocation-money-from-new-england-in-exchange-f|access-date=January 3, 2023|publisher=Los Angeles FC}}</ref>
In July 2023, he was traded to Toronto FC for Mark-Anthony Kaye.<ref name=blesskaye>{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-acquire-latif-blessing-and-an-international-slot-in-exchange-for-mark|title=Toronto FC acquire Latif Blessing and an international slot in exchange for Mark-Anthony Kaye|date=July 13, 2023|work=Toronto FC}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-trade-latif-blessing-to-houston-dynamo-fc-for-gam|title=Toronto FC trade Latif Blessing to Houston Dynamo FC for GAM|date=March 14, 2024|work=Toronto FC}}</ref>
On 25 August 2025, Blessing joined USL Championship side Lexington SC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1344778-lexington-sc-signs-veteran-midfielder-latif-blessing|title=Lexington SC signs veteran midfielder Latif Blessing|first=USLChampionship com|last=Staff|date=25 August 2025|website=USL Championship}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ghana Premier League best player Latif Blessing dropped from Africa Cup of Nations squad|url=http://ghanasoccernet.com/ghana-premier-league-best-player-latif-blessing-dropped-from-africa-cup-of-nations-squad|accessdate=10 January 2017|work=Ghana Soccer Net|date=2 January 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life== In 2017, Blessing obtained a U.S. green card allowing him to qualify as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Forward Latif Blessing obtains green card, no longer occupies international spot on Sporting KC roster|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2017/11/28/forward-latif-blessing-obtains-green-card-no-longer-occupies-international-spot|publisher=SportingKC.com|date=28 November 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801034552/https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2017/11/28/forward-latif-blessing-obtains-green-card-no-longer-occupies-international-spot|archive-date=1 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/13/sports/latif-blessing-new-england-revolution/|title=He came from Ghana to play soccer, but left his family behind. With help from the Revolution, they were finally reunited.|first=Randy|last=Vazquez|date=June 13, 2023|work=Boston Globe}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=1678417090116567042|date=July 10, 2023|first=Caleb|last=Pongratz|user=CalebPongratz10|title=Revolution midfielder Latif Blessing no longer occupies a green card and occupies an international roster slot}}</ref>
Blessing's brother, Ibrahim Fuseini, was a player of Lori FC in the Armenian Premier League from 2018 to 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghanaian youngster Ibrahim Fuseini joins Armenian side Lori FC |url=http://www.kickgh.com/more/ghanaians-abroad/4465-ghanaian-youngster-ibrahim-fuseini-joins-armenian-side-lori-fc |website=kickgh.com |publisher=Kick GH |accessdate=4 September 2018 |date=28 January 2018}}</ref> He has a twin sister, Latifa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lafc.com/players/13/latif-blessing|title=Latif Blessing | Los Angeles Football Club|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123082452/https://www.lafc.com/players/13/latif-blessing|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 21 October 2023}}<ref>{{Soccerway|latif-blessing/436373}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Liberty Professionals |2016 |Ghanaian Premier League |21||17||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||21||17 |- |Sporting Kansas City |2017 |Major League Soccer |25||3||5||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||6 |- |Swope Park Rangers (loan) |2017 |USL |1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||1 |- |rowspan="6"|Los Angeles FC |2018 |rowspan="5"|Major League Soccer |30||5||4||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||7 |- |2019 |34||6||3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||39||6 |- |2020 |21||1||colspan="2"|—||1||0||5||1||2||1||29||3 |- |2021 |30||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||2 |- |2022 |30||0||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !145!!14!!10!!2!!4!!0!!5!!1!!2!!1!!166!!18 |- |New England Revolution |2023 |Major League Soccer |15||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- |Toronto FC |2023 |Major League Soccer |5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0||7||0 |- |Toronto FC II (loan) |2023 |MLS Next Pro |1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !212!!35!!16!!5!!5!!0!!5!!1!!4!!1!!242!!42 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Sporting Kansas City''' *U.S. Open Cup: 2017
'''Los Angeles FC''' *MLS Cup: 2022 *Supporters' Shield: 2019, 2022
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{MLS player|latif-blessing}} * {{Soccerway}}
{{Lexington SC squad}} {{Ghana Premier League top scorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blessing, Latif}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Accra Category:Ghanaian men's footballers Category:Liberty Professionals F.C. players Category:Sporting Kansas City players Category:Sporting Kansas City II players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Ghana Premier League players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:USL Championship players Category:Los Angeles FC players Category:New England Revolution players Category:Ghanaian twins Category:Ghana Premier League top scorers Category:Toronto FC players Category:Toronto FC II players Category:MLS Next Pro players Category:Houston Dynamo FC players Category:Lexington SC players Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen