Sullivan becomes the youngest player in MLS history to earn Player of the Month honors (17 years and two days old)
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan was voted the MLS Player of the Month for September 2026.
In September, Sullivan appeared in four matches for Philadelphia and ranked first among all MLS players in goal contributions (nine), tied for first in assists (five), and tied for third in goals scored (four). Sullivan’s nine goal contributions were three more than the next-closest players. The 17-year-old midfielder has now produced a goal or assist in eight-straight matches, which is the longest streak by a teenager in MLS history. With Sullivan starring, the Union were the only team to go a perfect 5-0-0 during the month of September and led the league in both goals scored (20) and goal differential (plus-15).
Sullivan’s terrific month started on Matchday 24 when he scored Philadelphia’s second goal of the match in a 2-0 win over CF Montréal. Four days later on Matchday 25, he recorded three assists in a 5-0 win over FC Cincinnati, bringing his season total to 10 at the time. Sullivan continued his hot form on Matchday 26 with two goals and an assist against San Diego FC, earning him MLS Player of the Matchday honors for his performance. In his final game during the month, Sullivan scored one goal and added one assist as the Union became the fifth team in MLS history to erase a 3-0 deficit and win the match, defeating Sporting Kansas City, 4-3 on September 19.
Overall in 2026, Sullivan has produced seven goals and 12 assists in just 1,450 minutes of regular-season action. His 19 goal contributions are tied with Alphonso Davies (2018) for the second-most by a teenager in a season, trailing only Diego Fagúndez (20 in 2013). Since returning from the FIFA World Cup break, the Union have recorded 32 points during a 12-game unbeaten streak, which is tied for the most points by a club in a 12-game span in MLS history. Sullivan has started all 11 of those games, logging a goal contribution in eight of them. Sullivan’s record month helped him earn his first U.S. Men’s National Team call-up and against Peru on September 26, he became the second-youngest player to start a match for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
At 17 years and two days old today, Sullivan is the youngest player in MLS history to be named MLS Player of the Month. Sullivan is the fourth Union player in club history to be named MLS Player of the Month, joining Tai Baribo (February/March 2025), Jack McInerney (twice in 2013), and Sébastien Le Toux (September 2011). He is also the first player in MLS history to have progressed through the MLS Player Pathway – from MLS NEXT to MLS NEXT Pro and then to the first team – and earn MLS Player of the Month honors.
Sullivan and the Union will return after the FIFA International Window on Saturday, October 10, when they host Real Salt Lake at Subaru Park (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS on Apple TV).
MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a group of select national and local media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
