No player in Major League Soccer has more goals and assists than Cavan Sullivan’s 12 since the World Cup was suspended, helping Philadelphia United go on a 10-game unbeaten run in the league, moving from bottom of the Eastern Conference to seventh place and locking them into a playoff spot. Sullivan’s 12 goal contributions equal those of Lionel Messi, which makes the stat even more ridiculous. One player is Messi, the other is a 16-year-old American attacking midfielder who is exploding before our eyes.
Sullivan has recorded a goal or assist in seven consecutive games. He has surpassed Freddy Adu as the under-16 player with the most goals or assists in MLS history. This is the best teenager in MLS since Alphonso Davies, but in terms of overall performance, Sullivan is the best teenager in MLS history. As he showed with the first of his two goals against Santiago FC, he has the audacity to score a back-heel goal that few would attempt.
Confidence is important, and he certainly had it. It helped to play alongside his brother Quinn, who also broke into the League One first team as a teenager, but Cavan quickly made a name for himself and showed everyone why he signed for Manchester City as an 18-year-old. But with the international break approaching, the first of FIFA’s new window that will give teams a three-week break to face four teams, Sullivan absolutely must be there.
Initially, with U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino able to scout younger players, it was necessary for Sullivan to try out training camps and what he needed to make the national team, but now he should be promoted to the national team based on merit rather than just potential.
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No American player has performed better than Sullivan since the World Cup, and with Christian Pulisic returning from injury in Milan, Folarin Balogun’s situation at Monaco unclear after proposed move to Everton fell throughneed to look at the other attackers and one of them has to be Sullivan.
While the saying “if you’re old enough, you’re good enough” may be overstated, age shouldn’t be a factor in this case. If American players in MLS or the top flight can reach this level, they will have to be watched on the senior side of the national team, and that’s exactly what we have with Sullivan. Speak at media roundtablePochettino indeed confirmed rising star The likes of Sullivan, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall and Adri Mehemty will be among them.
“I think our idea [is] We’re going to make a mix [of] Experienced players,” Pochettino said. “I think the experienced players and the younger players can come together and start working, and how the younger kids can start to manage the pressure of first-team games. [in the] The next games… it’s difficult, but I think it’s important to have so many players now because I think players can improve from one month to another, six months, one year, and it’s important to keep that connection. “
While he doesn’t want anyone to be overconfident about their chances, these players are all pretty even, and what will help Sullivan most is his own competitiveness. He is not afraid of anyone, even attacking Messi when they faced Inter Miami in the league, and he is a man who can reflect on their performance. After the League Cup game against Blue CrossSullivan said he apologized to his teammates for missing the opportunity to win the game. Since then, he has seized most of the opportunities and led the team to achieve one result after another.
This sense of responsibility is unusual for someone so young, and this and other impressive qualities have helped Sullivan get where he is today. He’s clearly taken a step forward with his performances and been given more responsibility at club level and now it’s an opportunity to see if he’s ready to translate that to the national team. This form cannot be ignored, especially when challenges such as Mexico and Canada await during the international break, and with the national team roster expected to be announced this week, his name could be on it.