ACQUIRED
Selected second in the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft on December 12, 2017.
CAREER MILESTONES
• Supporters’ Shield: 2019
• MLS Team of the Week: 2019, Week 25
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champion: 2017
• Ghana Premier League Player of The Year: 2016
• Ghana Premier League Goal King (league’s top scorer): 2016
PROFESSIONAL
2020 (Los Angeles Football Club):
• Started 18 of the 21 regular season games he appeared in, tallying one goal and four assists in 1,720 minutes.
• Played all 90 minutes of the 3-1 postseason loss against Seattle Sounders FC on Nov. 24.
• Played in all five games (three starts) of the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
• Scored the third and final goal of the 3-1 semifinal win over Club America on Dec. 19.
2019 (Los Angeles Football Club):
• Appeared in a career high 34 regular season MLS matches, starting a career high 28, while posting MLS career highs in goals (six) and minutes (2,689).
• Started all three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, notching one assist in 270 minutes played.
• Earned MLS Team of the Week honors in week 25.
2018 (Los Angeles Football Club):
• Started 18 of 30 MLS regular season appearances, scoring five goals and adding six assists in a total of 1,834 minutes played.
• Notched a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Union on July 1.
• Started all four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appearances with two goals and
an assist, the assist coming in the Club’s semifinal loss in penalties to the Houston Dynamo on Aug. 9.
• Suffered an injury on Sept. 28, missed three games.
• Started in the Club’s only MLS Cup Playoff match, a 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake on Nov. 2.
2017 (Sporting KC):
• Started 16 of 25 appearances, recording three goals and one assist (1,419 minutes played).
• Registered six regular season assists.
• Started, played 90 minutes and tallied an assist at midfield during the 5-3 Western Conference Semifinal win vs. LA Galaxy on Oct. 24.
• Started the Western Conference Finals vs. Seattle on Oct. 29. Left at halftime with an injury.
• Registered first assist of the season during 2-2 draw at New York City FC on March 17.
• Made MLS debut as a second-half substitute in a 0-0 draw against FC Dallas on March 11.
• Scored two goals in a 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC on May 13, becoming the youngest player in Sporting KC history to score twice in an MLS match and just the fifth player in club history to notch a brace in his first MLS start for the club.
• Scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Fire on July 29.
• Started and played 43 minutes in a 2-1 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final victory over the New York Red Bulls on Sep. 20, scoring the opening goal in the 25th minute for his third tally of the tournament.
• Started the only game of the Club’s Knockout Round loss to the Houston Dynamo.
2016 (Liberty Professionals, Ghana Premier League):
• Named the 2016 Ghana Premier League Player of the Year after leading the top- flight with 17 goals in his first season on the senior team.
• Was the 2016 Ghana Premier League Goal King, an award given to the league’s top scorer.
• Finalist for the 2016 Ghanaian FA Cup Most Valuable Player award.
• Helped the Liberty Professionals reach the semifinals of the Ghanaian FA Cup.
• In April, scored five goals over a three- game span, including a brace in a 5-1 victory over defending league champions Ashanti Gold.
• Recorded his first hat-trick on July 27, notching three second-half goals in a 4-0 defeat of Sekondi Hasaacas.
• On Sept. 18, struck his second hat-trick of the year to help Liberty Professionals avoid relegation from the first division on the final matchday of 2016.
INTERNATIONAL
• Received first call-up to the Ghana Men’s National Team in December 2016 as a member of the Black Stars’ 30-man provisional squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, but was not selected to the final roster.
PERSONAL
• Has a twin sister, Latifa.
• Favorite sport other than soccer is American football.
• Favorite food is rice.
• Favorite movie is Moana.
• Is an avid FIFA player.
• Every off-season delivers soccer cleats and gear from teammates and the Club and donates to soccer players in his home village of Nankese.
• Follow Latif on Twitter @latif\blessing and Instagram @Lab\9.
