Teen Sensations Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall Shatter MLS Records Before Premier League Leap

MLS in 2026 is putting its young talent front and center, and Wednesday night's action delivered a compelling showcase of two players who could become the next generation of U.S. soccer standouts: Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. 

Both teenagers already boast impressive résumés, but Wednesday marked a historic evening for the pair. 

For 16-year-old Sullivan, who is set to join Manchester City upon turning 18, the night brought his first MLS goal, placing him among the eight youngest players ever to find the net in an MLS regular-season game. Despite limited appearances this season, the youngster came off the bench and immediately made his presence felt for the Philadelphia Union. 

Coming on in the 44th minute just before the break, Sullivan was lively throughout, netting in the 75th minute with a composed first-touch finish at the penalty spot against Orlando City goalkeeper and Canada's likely World Cup starter, Maxime Crépeau, capping off a perfectly timed run and pass combination. 

Cavan Sullivan scores his first MLS goal! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ldrM5SILKy

His display was eye-catching—he created five chances and registered two shots alongside his goal—but it wasn't enough to salvage a point for the Union, who went down 4–3 to Orlando.

Still, those minutes could prove significant for Sullivan's trajectory. He had previously contributed three goals and two assists in Concacaf Champions Cup play, yet had found consistent starts hard to come by under head coach Bradley Carnell. Wednesday's showing may well signal a turning point, especially as the Union continue to search for form. 

Youngest Players to Score in MLS History

Julian Hall's Record Hat-Trick

While Sullivan has attracted considerable buzz thanks to his future move to the Manchester City, he hasn't been the standout young talent in MLS this season—that distinction belongs to Julian Hall. 

The 18-year-old, who early in his professional career was restricted from playing night matches due to New Jersey's labor laws for minors, delivered a stunning performance in Red Bull New York's 3–2 victory over the Columbus Crew, bagging a first-half hat-trick. 

A Polish-American dual national, the feat brought Hall's season tally to 12 goals and 3 assists across 15 appearances in all competitions. In MLS alone, he has nine goals, placing him joint-third in the Golden Boot standings, behind Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, who leads with 11 after scoring twice in the Herons' 5–3 triumph over FC Cincinnati. 

🚨 JULIAN HALL HAT-TRICK 🚨

He's now the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat-trick!

History for the 18-year-old!! pic.twitter.com/GULV66EGrh

The hat-trick established Hall, at 18 years and 50 days old, as the youngest player in MLS history to achieve the feat, surpassing the previous record held by USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi, who was 18 years and 196 days at the time. 

However, his international future remains uncertain. Hall, who proudly wears his mother's surname Zakrzewski on the back of his shirt, has been courted by Poland, with Polish Football Federation president Cezary Kulesza traveling to New York in April to meet with Hall's mother and discuss the possibility of him representing the Polish national team. 

Neither player is expected to feature at the upcoming World Cup, given the depth of the USMNT and Poland's failure to qualify, but both could play important roles for their respective MLS clubs going forward, while representing exciting prospects for the future of U.S. Soccer—potentially becoming key figures in the build-up to the 2030 World Cup.