Cavan Sullivan, at just 14 years old, has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to compete in Major League Soccer (MLS). His record-breaking debut occurred during the match between the Philadelphia Union and the New England Revolution, surpassing Freddy Adu’s long-standing record by a mere 13 days. Adu, now 35, congratulated Sullivan on social media, acknowledging the difficulty of achieving such a milestone.
“Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record-breaking debut today,” Adu wrote on X. “That’s a hard record to break, and the kid did it. Well done and good luck, my man.”
Reflecting on his achievement, Sullivan expressed his lifelong anticipation for this moment. He shared on Instagram, “I’ve been waiting for this day all my life.”
In addition to his MLS record, Sullivan is also recognized as the youngest player to make a regular-season debut across all major North American professional leagues. The Associated Press noted that no player in the NBA, NFL, MLB, or similar leagues has debuted at a younger age since at least 1970.
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In a post-match interview, Sullivan acknowledged the journey ahead of him despite the immediate spotlight. “It’s all about where you finish, not where you start,” the young athlete stated, emphasizing that his primary focus is on the upcoming season with his teammates.
The match concluded with the Union achieving a decisive 5-1 victory.
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