LAFC 2026’s boast breakout stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players playing at LAFC from the 2026 are certainly well-regarded, but there are quite a few that are still flying under the radar, waiting to breakout in terms of rankings and prestige. These five players are quite capable of that and are players you should watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":270893,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Owen Creed","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Newbury Park","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"LAFC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671ccb1bee9f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Creed has the ability to recognize when to facilitate offense quickly or when to let things develop before distributing. His vision and understanding are quite good. He can thread a pass between center backs, he can receive, pivot and ping a beautiful ball out wide or he can possess, use the space given to him and let things open up in front of him. He also likes to join in the attack from whatever midfield spot he is playing, usually central midfield, as he pushes up but does not lose sight of the team's shape or his responsibilities. If the ball gets cleared out of the area, he is quick to pounce as he will use his momentum going forward to get on the ball, beat defenders and finish, cooly. Or he can strike the ball one time with power and accuracy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["65278"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671ccc850a736"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mishan is a tough defender with a workman's like attitude and physicality to go with it. He is incredibly strong and hard to beat from a physical standpoint. He's also very comfortable in possession as he can allow the game to flow with his technical ability, his composure on the ball and his ability to move the ball by either swinging it or by taking the space in front of him and then playing the ball forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["80812"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671ccc850a78f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Soto is strong on the ball and is very cool and composed. He's a tall, lean defender but a very strong ball-winner. He will get to everything in the air and he can bring the ball down with grace and control. He's very good about bringing the ball down and then facilitating offense right away, hitting a ball out wide, or using the dribble to beat the No. 6 and then play the ball into that vacated space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["80808"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671ccc850a7d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Velazquez is still flying under the radar as this versatile defender with defensive midfielder capability is a key player. He's an important outside player for his LAFC club as he is responsible for building up play from out wide. He plays good one-touch football and his combination play is great.A ball-winner on the outside, his goal is to dispossess you and then help transition the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["80817"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671ccc850a825"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Zambrano does really well in receiving the ball, as he has a knack for occupying the right space. He flashes his ability to then explode and exploit space once on the ball. He makes great decisions when on the ball, whether it is to attract defenders and play a ball or to take a defender on 1v1. He has good vision, good instincts and good technical ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->