Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan made history on Wednesday night, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a Major League Soccer match. At just 14 years and 293 days old, Sullivan entered the game in the 85th minute against the New England Revolution, breaking the previous record held by Freddy Adu, who debuted at 14 years and 305 days in 2004.
Sullivan’s debut was a highlight in Philadelphia’s commanding 5-1 victory, which included a goal from his older brother, Quinn Sullivan, just moments before Cavan took the field. Replacing forward Tai Baribo, Cavan Sullivan made several touches in the final minutes and recorded his first shot on goal in the dying moments of the match, though it was saved by New England’s goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic.
Freddy Adu congratulated Sullivan on social media, acknowledging the difficulty of breaking such a long-standing record and wishing the young player well in his career: “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.”
Sullivan’s debut makes him younger than any player in the NBA, NHL, NFL, NWSL, WNBA, or MLB since at least 1970, surpassing the record of NBA player Andrew Bynum, who debuted at 18 years and 6 days old. Sullivan is also younger than any player who has debuted in the five major European soccer leagues since at least 1988, a record previously held by Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal, who debuted at 15 years and 181 days.
Born in Philadelphia to soccer-playing parents, Sullivan joined the Union’s youth academy at age 10. He made his professional debut in March for the Philadelphia Union II in MLS’s developmental league, setting the stage for his historic MLS appearance.
