Standing at , Plata is the shortest player in MLS history, alongside Cristian Techera and Yeferson Soteldo; although not physically imposing, his small stature, combined with his low centre of gravity and resulting balance, make him extremely agile, and allow him to change direction very quickly in tight spaces, while his strong legs allow him to excel in short bursts of speed. In addition to his mobility and elusiveness, Plata is an extremely quick and dynamic player, who is known for his great acceleration over short distances, and his pace on the ball, as well as his dribbling ability and technical skills. A creative forward, Plata is an accurate finisher, and is capable of both scoring and assisting goals, which allows him to play in several offensive positions: although he has been used as a striker or as a supporting forward, his favoured role is on the left wing, a position which allows him to move out wide to receive the ball, beat players on the dribble, and subsequently cut into the middle of the pitch on his stronger right foot to either shoot on goal or set up his teammates.
