CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Fourteen-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan grew to become the youngest participant in Main League Soccer historical past on Wednesday evening — and doubtless the youngest to play in any of the most important skilled sports activities leagues on this planet.
Sullivan was 14 years, 293 days previous when he entered Philadelphia’s residence recreation instead within the eighty fifth minute in opposition to the New England Revolution. That makes him about two weeks youthful than Freddy Adu when he made his MLS debut in 2004 for DC United.
Sullivan made his debut moments after his brother, 20-year-old Quinn, scored a objective to place Philadelphia up 5-1.
Cavan Sullivan, who changed ahead Tai Baribo, received a handful of touches within the remaining minutes of the Union’s blowout win. He even recorded his first shot on objective, blasting it at New England’s internet from outdoors the penalty space within the remaining minute of damage time, however it was comfortably saved by Aljaz Ivacic.
“Massive congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his file breaking debut right now,” Adu wrote on social media. “That’s a tough file to interrupt and the child did it. Effectively performed and good luck my man.”
Sullivan is youthful than any participant who has appeared within the NBA, NHL, NFL, NWSL, WNBA or Main League Baseball since no less than 1970, based on the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Andrew Bynum, who debuted for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005 on the age of 18 years, 6 days, holds that mark.
The youngest debut within the 5 greatest soccer leagues all over the world since no less than 1988, based on FBRef.com, was Ethan Nwaneri, who got here on for Arsenal in 2022 at 15 years, 181 days.
The youthful Sullivan was born in Philadelphia to 2 soccer-playing mother and father, and he joined the Union’s youth academy 4 years in the past. He made his skilled debut in March for the Philadelphia Union II in MLS’ developmental league.
AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer