History beckons for the soccer world.
Cavan Sullivan, a 14-year-old wunderkind, was named to the Philadelphia Union’s first team for its match against the New England Revolution on Wednesday.
If he plays, he would become the youngest player in major North American sports to do so, which includes the NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL.
The record is currently held by Freddy Adu when he played for D.C. United at 14 years, 306 days old in April 2004.
On Wednesday, Sullivan will be 14 years and 293 days old.
Some speculated that Sullivan got his name called because players were away for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but Union head coach Jim Curtin said the midfielder has earned his spot on the roster.
The youngster tucked away goals in his last two outings for Philadelphia’s reserve team, Union II, along with having five total starts thus far.
“Tomorrow he will be in the 20 because he’s earned it,” Curtin said on Tuesday, as reported by ESPN.
“We are missing a few guys, obviously that goes his way when you have [Jack] McGlynn and [Nathan] Harriel away as well, but Cavan’s earned the right to be in the 20 if you just go through the numbers and he’ll get that opportunity now.”
Sullivan has performed well under bright lights, and the story is no different when it comes to practices.
“When we’re at training, there are still two or three moments where he does something where you go, ‘Okay I can’t teach that. That’s something that’s ingrained in a young kid where his talent is elite,’” Curtin told the official MLS website.
Even at the young age of 14, Sullivan is no stranger to breaking records.
As reported by ESPN, Sullivan signed the largest contract in MLS history for a homegrown hero.
Once the prodigy turns 18, he will transfer to Manchester City.
On the day of the signing, reporters asked Sullivan about the record on the horizon.
“I think it would be cool to obviously have my first record, but it doesn’t really matter to me if I beat it or not,” Sullivan told ESPN.
“I mean, everyone’s on their own journey. It’s not really where you start, it’s about where you finish.”
