Philadelphia Union teenage star Cavan Sullivan scored in a third successive MLS game and in the process broke a record set by onetime U.S. soccer prodigy Freddy Adu.
Sullivan found the net in the 75th minute with a clinical left-footed finish to clinch a 2-0 win for Philadelphia against the visiting CF Montréal on Saturday.
The goal took Sullivan to 11 goal contributions for the year, the most ever by a 16-year-old in MLS, eclipsing the mark set by Adu in 2005. He is also the youngest MLS player with a goal contribution in five straight matches.
Sullivan celebrated the milestone by mimicking the famed chalk toss of new Philadelphia arrival LeBron James.
Cavan Sullivan slams it! 🔥
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 6, 2026
The 16-year-old doubles the Philadelphia lead and celebrates Lebron-style. pic.twitter.com/Wb3QVa0ldx
Across all competitions this season, including Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup, Sullivan has seven goals and 11 assists in 27 appearances.
Saturday was not the first time that Sullivan has broken a record set by Adu. Two years ago he surpassed Adu as the youngest player to appear for a senior MLS team when making his Union debut at the age of 14 years, 293 days.
Months before that, Philadelphia signed Sullivan to the largest homegrown contract in MLS history. ESPN reported at the time that the deal included an agreement to transfer Sullivan to English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City when he turns 18.
Like Adu two decades earlier, Sullivan is attracting plenty of attention as a potential future star for the U.S. men's national team, with many already calling for him to earn a place in Mauricio Pochettino's roster.
Sullivan has represented the U.S. up to the under-18 level.
Information from ESPN Research contributed to this report.
