Kellyn Acosta
Kellyn Kai Perry-Acosta is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the United States national team.
Acosta was born in the United States to a Japanese father, and Puerto Rican mother, and was eligible for Japan or the United States. After having played in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Acosta became the youngest member of the U.S. squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was also part of the squad two years later at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Acosta made his senior international debut for the United States in a friendly versus Iceland on January 31, 2016. Acosta scored his first senior international goal in a 2-1 friendly win over Ghana on July 1, 2017, curling a direct free kick into the bottom corner for the eventual game-winner. He was selected to the U.S. squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the U.S. would go on to win. Acosta appeared in five of six games, including all three knock-out matches. Acosta made six appearances in international friendlies in 2018, scoring against Colombia on Oct. 12 and assisting Josh Sargent's goal against Peru on Oct. 16.
Following an almost 24 month absence from national team duty, Acosta was selected for a December 2020 camp on November 30, 2020, alongside fellow Rapids teammates Cole Bassett and Sam Vines. Acosta replaced Sebastian Lletget in the 68th minute of a 6-0 friendly win over El Salvador on Dec 9 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Acosta was called up again in January 2021 alongside Rapids teammates Vines and Jonathan Lewis, playing 90 minutes and assisting on Lewis' second goal in a 7-0 friendly win over Trinidad & Tobago at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 31. During the 2021 calendar year, Acosta appeared in 21 out of a possible 22 matches for the United States becoming the first player to do so since 1994.
Acosta was born in the United States to a Japanese father, and Puerto Rican mother, and was eligible for Japan or the United States. After having played in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Acosta became the youngest member of the U.S. squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was also part of the squad two years later at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Acosta made his senior international debut for the United States in a friendly versus Iceland on January 31, 2016. Acosta scored his first senior international goal in a 2-1 friendly win over Ghana on July 1, 2017, curling a direct free kick into the bottom corner for the eventual game-winner. He was selected to the U.S. squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the U.S. would go on to win. Acosta appeared in five of six games, including all three knock-out matches. Acosta made six appearances in international friendlies in 2018, scoring against Colombia on Oct. 12 and assisting Josh Sargent's goal against Peru on Oct. 16.
Following an almost 24 month absence from national team duty, Acosta was selected for a December 2020 camp on November 30, 2020, alongside fellow Rapids teammates Cole Bassett and Sam Vines. Acosta replaced Sebastian Lletget in the 68th minute of a 6-0 friendly win over El Salvador on Dec 9 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Acosta was called up again in January 2021 alongside Rapids teammates Vines and Jonathan Lewis, playing 90 minutes and assisting on Lewis' second goal in a 7-0 friendly win over Trinidad & Tobago at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 31. During the 2021 calendar year, Acosta appeared in 21 out of a possible 22 matches for the United States becoming the first player to do so since 1994.