Cavan Sullivan, the 17-year-old midfielder for the Philadelphia Union, etched his name into Major League Soccer history by breaking a 13-year-old record during Wednesday’s comeback win against Chicago Fire. Despite his record-breaking performance, Sullivan’s modest reaction surprised many.
In Philadelphia’s 3-1 victory, Sullivan provided a crucial second-half assist to Bruno Damiani, marking his 21st goal contribution of the season. This tally, consisting of seven goals and 14 assists, surpasses the previous teenage MLS record held by Diego Fagúndez since 2013.
MLS Record and Team Momentum
By reaching 14 assists this season, Sullivan has matched the legendary Lionel Messi—a notable feat given Messi’s longstanding prominence in world football. Sullivan trails only LAFC’s Son Heung-Min by a single assist, highlighting his remarkable creative output.
The Philadelphia Union’s victory also extended their unbeaten streak to 14 games, a dramatic turnaround from their position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference just a few months ago in July. This run has been instrumental in the club’s resurgence this season.
Nevertheless, Sullivan downplayed his individual accomplishment. “I played sort of terrible tonight,” he confessed candidly after the match. Despite contributing significantly to the team’s success, he expressed a desire to improve his performance.
“I’m happy with the win, but I’ve sort of got to look in the mirror and watch some film and see what I have to do better,” Sullivan added, demonstrating a mature approach to his development despite the accolades.