MOST football fans this side of the pond have no idea who Cavan Sullivan is, but to the Stateside soccer fanatics, Sullivan is becoming a household name.

Sullivan became the USA’s youngest-ever goalscorer last week when he netted his first senior goal for the Stars and Stripes just five days after his 17th birthday.

Cavan Sullivan celebrates after scoring his first goal with the team during a match.
Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player to ever score for the Unites States on Sunday night Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan dribbles the ball during a match.
Sullivan is one of most highly-rated youngsters in the world Credit: Reuters

The teenager brilliantly intercepted a pass from Raul Rangel before pulling off a sensational lob as the US thrashed 3-0 on Sunday night.

While his goal has started a buzz around his potential for the rest of the world, Americans have been singing his praises for a long time.

Sullivan was tipped to be the future of the USMNT years before he even earned his first senior call-up during this international break.

His talent has been obvious to those who have been keeping a keen eye on his development from an early age.

Family members recall him being able to strike a ball with his laces and dribble with ease when he was just 18 months old.

And that will see him join the club when he turns 18 in 2028.

City were so convinced by Sullivan’s potential that they put pen to paper on a pre-contract FOUR YEARS before they would be able to get their hands on the rising star.

That deal coincided with Sullivan signing pro terms at his club Philadelphia Union, where he has remained during his entire development.

CAVAN SULLIVAN PICKS HIS POCKET AND SENDS IT IN FROM WAYYYYYY DOWNTOWN! #USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/tTiumwSPsS

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) October 4, 2026
MLS: Philadelphia Union press conference to announce Cavan Sullivan signing
Sullivan signed his first pro contract and committed his future to Manchester City when he was just 14 years old Credit: Reuters

The teenager was keen to stay in Philadelphia and wanted to start his career with his boyhood club, the same place his older brother Quinn currently plays.

Despite being just 14 at the time, Sullivan signed the biggest homegrown deal in MLS history at that point.

The youngster sat down in front of the media and spoke about his contract that day, proclaiming that he wants to be the “best ever,” an unusual moment for such a young player.

But the media-facing side of the game is not something that Sullivan shies away from, which is perhaps why he is already tied down to lucrative brand deals with Adidas and EA Sports.

His name has been thrown around the media in the USA ever since, but it wasn’t until this season that fans truly got a proper look at the immense talent he holds.

Although Sullivan made his MLS debut as a 14-year-old in 2024 – making him the league’s youngest-ever player – this season has been considered his breakout year.

The wide midfielder has become a regular fixture in the Philadelphia Union first team, making 24 appearances, scoring seven goals and registering 12 assists already.

His numbers are even more remarkable when you break them down.

This term, Sullivan has averaged a goal contribution every 76 minutes, doing it while the Union have put together a 12-game unbeaten streak.

In fact, he is tied with for goal contributions in the MLS since the World Cup.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi and Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan pose together on the field.
Sullivan and Lionel Messi lead the MLS for goal contributions since the World Cup Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

It is why he won the MLS Player of the Month award in September, becoming the youngest ever recipient of the award.

Sullivan has been compared to , not least because the pair have been put front and centre by shared sponsor Adidas as the next generation of superstars.

But despite being just 94 days older than Dowman, Sullivan has already made 34 more senior club appearances than the English starlet – albeit in the MLS.

Any rivalry between the pair will become even more high-profile when Sullivan completes his move to the Premier League with Man City in January 2028.

There had been some speculation that City’s damning financial breaches could scupper the future move, but it is understood that Sullivan is still on track to make the switch.

Despite all the noise around Sullivan, his head remains firmly screwed on.

As with the majority of 17-year-old kids, he still lives at home with his parents in a Philadelphia suburb.

But there are so many things that separate Sullivan from the usual kid his age.

Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. 17th July, 2024. Cavan Sullivan future Manchester City prospect on the pitch in his debut for the Philadelphia Union making him the youngest player to appear in a Major League Soccer - MLS - football game at 14 years and 3
Sullivan made his MLS debut aged just 14, becoming the league’s youngest-ever player Credit: Alamy

USMNT boss used superlatives like “talented,” “tremendous,” and “unbelievable” to describe the ace after his goal on Sunday night.

And if Sullivan can continue to develop in his current trajectory, there will be nothing stopping him from repeating moments like that on the biggest stages in world .

For Sullivan, scoring for his country is just the start of his journey, but it is something that he has been thinking about doing since he was just a kid.

He said: “These are the moments you dream of when you’re a three, four, five or six-year-old.

“I manifested this moment, not just these past couple of hours when I found out I was starting, but my whole life.”