At 16 years and 363 days, Cavan Sullivan made history by becoming the fourth youngest player to represent the United States in a 4-1 friendly victory over Peru. The Philadelphia Union midfielder, who is set to officially join English club Manchester City within a year, has drawn widespread attention since the club secured his future signing in 2024 when he was just 14 years old. His performances in Major League Soccer (MLS) since the World Cup have placed him among the league's top individual stars, including legends like Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, and Luis Suarez. Sullivan has scored seven goals and recorded five assists in MLS this season, with six of those goals and four of those assists coming during August and September. He has scored six goals in the past six games and has been named in the league's Team of the Matchday seven times, including for the past three consecutive matchdays. Sullivan's international debut occurred the day after Manchester City were found guilty of breaking most of the 115 financial rules they were accused of breaching, though the club is expected to appeal. His full-time introduction to the Philadelphia Union team has coincided with a dramatic turnaround in their season, led by interim coach Ryan Richter, who took over before the post-World Cup run-in. The Union are unbeaten in 11 games, winning nine, in stark contrast to the beginning of the season when they only won one game in 15. Sullivan has played a key part in this improvement, operating in a right-sided attacking midfield role with the freedom to drift into a central number 10 position. Jonathan Tannenwald, chief soccer correspondent for the Philadelphia Inquirer, noted that while it is too early to determine if Sullivan will become the male soccer star the United States has long hoped for, he has the work ethic to complement his talent. Sullivan's manager at the Union, Ryan Richter, highlighted his outstanding quality and mentality, which drive him to improve. Sullivan, who turns 17 this month, has a strong family background in soccer, with both parents and his grandfather having been involved in the sport. His brother Quinn, 22, also plays for the Union. Tannenwald mentioned that Sullivan is handling the pressure well and is still a teenager finding his way, though he is grounded by his family and his brother in the locker room.