PHILADELPHIA (AP) — 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, hailed as a teenage soccer star in Major League Soccer (MLS), set an American scoring record with his first professional goal for the Philadelphia Union.
Sullivan had a breakthrough in his young – very, very young – career when he scored twice and provided two assists to lead the league to a 7-0 win over Defense FC on Thursday night in the CONCACAF Champions League – North America’s equivalent of the Champions League.
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“This is another moment in the right direction,” Union coach Bradley Carnell said.
At 16 years, 4 months and 29 days, Sullivan became the youngest American goalscorer in the CONCACAF Champions League.
“It means a lot,” Sullivan said. “In my mind, it took a long time. I wish I had it sooner. It’s a special moment.”
Sullivan made his league debut in July 2024 at the age of 14 years and 293 days, and is believed to be the youngest player to appear in a major North American professional sports league.
Hype surrounding Sullivan has mushroomed around Major League Soccer (MLS) and is expected to spread around the world by the end of 2027 when he moves to Premier League giants Manchester City at the age of 18.
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Sullivan’s first goal on Thursday was a left-footed shot, making him the third youngest scorer in CONCACAF Champions League history. He launched the attack in the 88th minute and then succeeded in a follow-up shot.
“It’s nice to score my first goal,” Sullivan said. “Two of them actually. It’s very special. What’s more important is that we kept a clean sheet in the win and then we went through.”
The Union team advances with a combined score of 12-0 over the two legs – Philadelphia won 5-0 in Trinidad and Tobago on February 18 and next faces Mexican team Club América.
The 5-foot-7, 150-pound Sullivan led Team USA to victory at the 2023 CONCACAF Under-15 Championship, marking the first time the United States has won the event. As the youngest player on the team, Sullivan’s four goals earned him the Ballon d’Or as the tournament’s best player.
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Sullivan and Union face New York City FC at home in MLS on Sunday.
“I think I’ve made some good impacts since I came in,” Sullivan said. “At this level, things get faster and things get more difficult.”
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Associated Press Major League Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer
