Teenage soccer sensation Cavan Sullivan scored an amazing goal in the U.S. team's 3-0 victory over Mexico on Oct. 3 in Glendale, Arizona, becoming the youngest scorer in United States men's national team history.
Sullivan, at 17 years and five days old, became the youngest scorer days after Mathis Albert, at 17 years and 131 days, scored a goal against Chile. Sullivan plays for the Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union.
The record before that was held by Jupiter's Christian Pulisic, when he was 17 years, 253 days old.
The goal by Sullivan, in which he intercepted a pass from Mexico goalie Raúl Rangel and chipped it over Rangel's head into the empty net, came in just his third international match. His first was last week when he became the youngest
to start a game for the U.S. since Freddy Adu in 2006.
Adu spent significant time in Florida as part of U.S. Soccer's residency program in Bradenton, where he became the country's most famous soccer prodigy before signing with D.C. United at age 14.
In December 2006, Adu played for the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team in a match against Guatemala at FAU's stadium in Boca Raton. He scored the equalizing goal in a 2-1 U.S. victory before a crowd of about 1,600.
CAVAN SULLIVAN SCORES IN HIS FIRST USA-MEXICO GAME 😤
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 4, 2026
He's now the USMNT's youngest ever goalscorer. pic.twitter.com/uV4i6g26hO
"It's the biggest pinch [me moment] ever," Sullivan told TNT Sports. "These are moments you dream of since you're 3, 4, 5, 6 years old. I manifested this moment, not just these past couple hours when I found out I was starting but my whole life.
"This is an incredible moment for my family, for me, what an honor it is. Just really grateful that the coaches trusted in me and gave me this opportunity."
Mauricio Pochettino, the former Argentine player and now coach of the US team who led them in this summer's World Cup in North America, shared a hug with Sullivan soon after his goal.
"He's a fighter, he's a warrior," Pochettino said. "It's difficult to find this type of player. Tremendous quality."
The US team is young, as another teenager, Julian Hall, 18, opened the scoring for the US against Mexico.
The US team has won all three of its friendlies since being eliminated in the World Cup by Belgium in the round of 16.
The US next plays Canada on Tuesday.
USA Today, CNN and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: US soccer star makes history in blowout win against Mexico
