Records are meant to be broken. For Cavan Sullivan, that has been the story of his breakout 2026 season.
Fresh off his historic USMNT debut, the 17-year-old midfielder delivered two assists on Saturday as the Philadelphia Union extended their club-record unbeaten streak to 13 matches with a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake at Subaru Park.
With his two helpers, Sullivan became the all-time leader in goal contributions by a teenager in MLS history (21), surpassing both Vancouver Whitecaps FC alum Alphonso Davies, who recorded 19 goal contributions in 2018, and New England Revolution homegrown Diego Fagúndez, who tallied 20 in 2013.
Setting a standard
Even without showing his best stuff, Sullivan still found ways to influence Saturday's result while writing his name into the MLS record books.
“I did not think it was his best game," said interim manager Ryan Richter. "He was solid, I would say. Even in a game where he wasn’t electric in the way he has been in most games, he still has a hand in the first goal for the assist, and then he kind of makes the play that leads to the action for the second goal.
“Even when everything is not coming off perfectly… he still finds a way to create both goals that we had tonight.”
USMNT stock rising
Amid massive expectations, Sullivan continues to live up to the hype, sitting atop the MLS assists leaderboard with 14, alongside Seattle Sounders FC Designated Player Albert Rusnák.
The teenage phenom's run of form only gained momentum during the recent international break. Sullivan earned his first US men’s national team call-up, made his first start against Peru and scored his first international goal against Concacaf archrivals Mexico, becoming the youngest in USMNT history to do so.
Saturday's milestone was another landmark moment in Sullivan’s rapid ascent, further cementing his transition from promising prospect to genuine contributor on the international stage.
The Union’s remarkable resurgence has now stretched to 13 matches unbeaten (11W-0L-2D) since returning from the 2026 FIFA World Cup break, a club record for a team that sat at the bottom of the league standings during the first half of the season. They're currently sixth in the Eastern Conference with six games remaining.
Sullivan and the Union will look to keep their momentum rolling when they visit Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on Wednesday night (8:30 pm ET | Apple TV).
