History was made in Philadelphia as 14-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan stepped onto the soccer field, becoming the youngest player to join a game in Major League Soccer. Breaking a nearly two-decade record, Sullivan was 14 years and 293 days old when he entered as a substitute in the 85th minute for the Philadelphia Union against the New England Revolution. 6abc reported on this landmark event as Sullivan eclipsed the record previously held by Freddy Adu.
The landmark moment saw Sullivan replace forward Tai Baribo and get his feet on the ball, even attempting a shot on goal during injury time. Notably, his entry into the game followed a goal scored by his older brother, Quinn Sullivan, painting a narrative of familial triumph within the team's dominating performance. "Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record breaking debut today, that’s a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man", Freddy Adu congratulated Sullivan, Reuters reports.
"It was absolute chaos. Awesome goal from him, great finish," Cavan Sullivan remarked on his brother's goal, citing the electrifying atmosphere of the game. His focus, however, clearly remains on the future, stating, "This is just the start. I am really happy to have done this but it is honestly the first box checked off." His comments on the debut carry the weight of his ambitions, indicating a clear vision for his pathway in professional soccer, as per BBC Sport.
Signing with Philadelphia in May, in what was deemed the largest deal for a homegrown player in MLS history, Sullivan expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership between his club and the Man City Group. "The collaboration between the Union and the City Group was - that did it for me. I always watch Man City. They're like every kid's dream team," Sullivan shared, as per BBC Sport. His professional debut not only marked a significant personal achievement but also underscored the potential that the Union sees in their young player. Union manager Jim Curtin had high praise for Sullivan, asserting, "He's a generational talent, one who can really change the game by himself," according to BBC Sport.
