Sullivan dabbed tears in May during a high school graduation speech where he called his father, “not only my favorite teacher of all time, but my role model,” and cited inspiration to think strategically from “my favorite lawyer, AKA my mom.”
uncertain
he → dab → lawyer
Like most teenagers at this time of the school year, Sullivan even has higher education on his mind.
asserted
Sullivan → have → mind
He plans to start online courses at Syracuse University in the spring.
asserted
He → plan → spring
“Right now, I’m at home sort of just doing nothing,” Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → ’m → nothing
“It’ll be nice to have tasks and work to do again.”
asserted
It → have → tasks
Sullivan might be puttering around the house with his coursework on pause.
uncertain
coursework → putter → pause
On the field, the 17-year-old Sullivan has never been busier — or better, as he does it all from leading the charge for a Philadelphia Union team riding a 13-game unbeaten streak in Major League Soccer to scoring his first goal for the national team that dropped jaws and raised expectations that yes, maybe, he really is the next great hope for the Americans.
asserted
he → do → Americans
Sullivan has evolved into the stardom predicted for him since his days kicking the ball around with his brothers inside and outside of his northeast Philadelphia home.
asserted
Sullivan → evolve → home
European teams scouted him was he was in grade school.
asserted
he → scout → school
He signed with the Union at 14.
asserted
He → sign → 14
Committed to play for Manchester City when he turns 18.
asserted
he → commit → 18
The Olympics and the 2030 World Cup are all within reach for the buzz-cut blonde who could do what Freddy Adu, Landon Donovan, Christian Pulisic and other can’t-miss prospects who missed failed to achieve: help elevate the United States into the conversation among the world’s leading soccer nations.
uncertain
who → do → nations
“Of course, as a player, I always like to envision myself and manifest things,” Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → like → things
Sullivan remains grounded as he turns into soccer’s breakout star
Sullivan has kept his ego in check even as everyone wants a piece of the hottest prospect in soccer.
asserted
everyone → remain → soccer
Heck, even Phillies slugger Bryce Harper — another former teen sensation — popped into Subaru Park over the weekend to catch Sullivan record an assist in the Union’s latest victory.
asserted
Harper → pop → victory
“It is cool,” Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → say → ?
“It’s not necessarily normal for a lot of people.
asserted
It → ’ → people
But for me, same message always, from my parents and from myself is to keep my head down and just keep working.
asserted
message → keep → head
Haven’t achieved what I wanted to achieve yet.
asserted
I → achieve → what
He had achieved plenty before he was a teenager.
asserted
he → achieve → plenty
Before he could drive.
uncertain
he → drive → ?
Before he could legally drink.
uncertain
he → drink → ?
Sullivan has seven goals and 13 assists for the Union as they have improbably turned a 1-10-4 start under former manager Bradley Carnell into a 13-game unbeaten streak — including seven straight victories — under interim coach Ryan Richter headed into Wednesday night’s game at the Chicago Fire.
asserted
they → have → Fire
Richter, who began his coaching career with the Union Academy in 2018, has watched Sullivan successfully navigate playing at an elite level against kids and pros much older than him, as well as humbly putting in the work and deflecting endless praise.
asserted
Sullivan → begin → praise
“To me, he’s the 8-year-old kid running around like crazy and pulling off something incredible on the field,” Richter said.
asserted
Richter → ’ → field
“That’s still the kid I see.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
I don’t think anyone here, because he’s been part of this for so long, looks at him as something more than a great player that we want to see continue to get better.”
asserted
we → think → that
Older brother Quinn Sullivan — a Union midfielder like his brother, who has played with the national team — said he never has to reel in Cavan from getting a big head.
asserted
he → play → head
Even as his Instagram following pushes 500,000 with another 318,000 more on TikTok.
asserted
following → push → TikTok
“I don’t think he needs any help managing it,” Quinn Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → think → it
“He does well.
asserted
He → do → ?
We laugh and joke about some of the things that are said.”
asserted
that → laugh → things
Most of the things said or written or posted or TikTok’d about Cavan inevitably punctuate the string of milestone moments filling up his career biography.
asserted
Most → say → biography
Cavan Sullivan is young, as his accomplishments show
At 14 years, 293 days, Sullivan is believed to have been the youngest player to appear in a game for any major North American professional sports league when he made his July 2024 debut for the Union.
asserted
he → show → Union
He has accumulated a roll call of accolades built around one recurring distinction: youngest.
asserted
He → accumulate → distinction
At 17 years and two days, the youngest player ever named MLS Player of the Month.
asserted
player → name → Month
Sullivan will always hold the title of youngest in his family.
asserted
Sullivan → hold → family
His twin brothers, both of whom play at Saint Joseph’s, are two years older than he is, while Quinn is 22.
asserted
Quinn → play → Joseph
“He’s got that little brother mentality, dude,” Quinn Sullivan said.
asserted
Sullivan → get → mentality
“He’s been having to fight his whole life.”
asserted
He → have → ?
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
