Cavan Sullivan Sets MLS Teen Record as Philadelphia Union Eye Playoffs

Cavan Sullivan’s rapid rise has helped turn Philadelphia Union’s season around, even as the 17-year-old faces an ankle problem before this weekend’s meeting with FC Cincinnati. The midfielder has produced 21 goals and assists, setting an MLS single-season record for a teenager and becoming the latest central figure in Philadelphia’s surge into the playoffs.

Philadelphia confirmed its postseason place on Wednesday after a remarkable recovery from the first part of the campaign. The Union were bottom of MLS with seven points from 15 games before the FIFA World Cup pause, but have collected a league-leading 39 points since play resumed, winning 12, drawing three and losing one.

A planned route to the first team

1. Philadelphia signed Sullivan at 14 and mapped out his progression from the academy through Union II and into the senior side. Ryan Richter, now the interim first-team manager, had known him since coaching him as an eight-year-old.
2. At the start of 2026, Sullivan found minutes difficult to secure while the Union struggled. He had made 14 MLS appearances before this season without registering a goal contribution, then recorded five in 13 league outings by the end of May, having played only 549 minutes.
3. Richter said Sullivan was frustrated by his lack of involvement and wanted the opportunity to prove himself. The manager felt the youngster initially tried to force too much into brief substitute appearances.
4. Bradley Carnell was dismissed at the end of May, and Richter took charge with a decision to keep Sullivan in the side. Richter told the midfielder he would receive a genuine run in the team rather than isolated minutes and would have to seize it.
5. Before and during the World Cup break, Sullivan continued working while much of the squad was away. He featured for Union II against Ivory Coast, trained with older brother Quinn Sullivan and their father Brendan, a former professional, and then impressed in four friendlies against MLS opposition.
6. Sullivan did not record a goal or assist in his first four games after the restart, but a goal and an assist against Necaxa in the Leagues Cup began his current run.

Record-breaking output and a stronger Union

Sullivan’s 21 goal contributions have moved him beyond Diego Fagundez’s previous teenage MLS benchmark of 20, set with New England Revolution in 2013. He also surpassed the record for a player aged under 17, breaking Freddy Adu’s mark of 10 from 2005 before Sullivan turned 17 in late September.

His form has featured both productivity and conspicuous moments of individual quality. Against San Diego FC, Sullivan scored with an inventive back-heel finish. He also made an impact for the United States against Mexico, intercepting a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Raúl Rangel before lifting a 35-yard effort over him.

The teenager’s edge has been apparent alongside his technical ability, and his post-World Cup output has prompted discussion around MLS Most Valuable Player consideration, outside of Lionel Messi’s place in the conversation. Richter, however, has sought to keep the attention on daily improvement rather than individual honours, telling his players to block out external noise and concentrate on producing a strong training session.

MVP debate requires perspective

There are reasons to temper the MVP claims despite Sullivan’s transformative influence on the Union. TruMedia credits him with 15 goal contributions since the World Cup break, placing him seventh in MLS under its methodology, which treats secondary assists differently from the league’s official figures.

Orlando City SC’s Antoine Griezmann has 22 in that period, Messi has 19, and Philadelphia teammate Milan Iloski has 18. FC Cincinnati’s Evander and Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar, whose club won the Supporters’ Shield, have also delivered across the full season.

That context does not lessen Sullivan’s breakthrough. Richter said his work during the break convinced the group that he deserved to start and could decide matches at MLS level. Philadelphia’s improvement has closely tracked the increased responsibility given to their young midfielder.

Limited time left in MLS

Sullivan is due to join Manchester City in January 2028, shortly after his 18th birthday. With MLS set to alter its calendar, Philadelphia’s remaining time with him is expected to comprise the 2027 sprint season and the opening half of the 2027-28 campaign.

The MLS Young Player of the Year award is now a realistic target, but the immediate priority is Philadelphia’s playoff run and Sullivan’s fitness ahead of Cincinnati. Richter believes the past five months illustrate how quickly a player’s position can change, while stressing that continued progress must be made week by week.

For Sullivan and the Union, the task is to turn a startling second-half revival into a successful finish to the season before the next stage of his career arrives.