Cavan Sullivan Had 'Butterflies Like Never Before' In Record-Setting MLS Debut
While making history as the youngest player in Major League Soccer history, even a precocious teen like Cavan Sullivan couldn't help feeling nervous as he entered the game.
"Coming up that sideline there was butterflies in my stomach like I've never had them before," Sullivan told Hoda Kotb and Sheinelle Jones on TODAY Friday. "Honestly I was truly excited. It's always been a dream of mine. But once I stepped on the field, it sort of all went away, and I was back in my zone."
The 14-year-old midfielder for the Philadelphia Union entered the game against the New England Revolution on July 17 as a substitute in the 85th minute. He is about two weeks younger than former wunderkind Freddy Adu when he made his MLS debut in 2004 for the DC United.
“Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record breaking debut today,” Adu wrote on social media. “That’s a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man.”
Making the night even more special was the fact that Sullivan's older brother, Quinn, a 20-year-old midfielder for the Union, scored a goal to put Philadelphia up 5-1 shortly before Cavan entered the game.
"Quinn's the man," Sullivan said. "He's been really helpful in this journey. He's always feeding me feedback and criticism, but he always has my back and always shows support. He's really helpful with the balance of school, soccer and a social life for me specifically, and I'm just really happy to have him along the way."
Cavan Sullivan, who replaced forward Tai Baribo, got a handful of touches in the final minutes of the Union’s blowout win. He even recorded his first shot on goal, blasting it at New England’s net from outside the penalty area in the final minute of injury time, but it was comfortably saved by Aljaz Ivacic.
“Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record breaking debut today,” Adu wrote on social media. “That’s a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man.”
While Sullivan has been hailed as a generational talent, he has worked to keep himself grounded.
"Me personally I don’t really thrive off words like that," he said. "It’s usually my own mentality and what I think of myself. I’m a really self-aware person, so I know how I’m doing in my life and my career.”
Sullivan is younger than any player who has appeared in the NBA, NHL, NFL, NWSL, WNBA or Major League Baseball since at least 1970, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The youngest debut in the five biggest soccer leagues around the world since at least 1988, according to FBRef.com, was Ethan Nwaneri, who came on for Arsenal in 2022 at 15 years, 181 days.
The younger Sullivan was born in Philadelphia to two soccer-playing parents, and he joined the Union’s youth academy four years ago.
He made his professional debut in March for the Philadelphia Union II in MLS’ developmental league.
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