Kavan Saliven becomes youngest goalscorer in US history
Philadelphia midfielder Kavan Saliven scored in the USA's 3:0 friendly win over Mexico and, at 17 years and five days, became the national team's youngest ever scorer.
Kavan Saliven has become the youngest goalscorer in the history of the United States national team after finding the net in a 3:0 friendly win over Mexico.
The 17-year-old midfielder for Philadelphia scored during the match and, at 17 years and five days, supplanted Matis Albert and Kristijan Pulisic on the national team's goalscorers list. The goal further amplified the attention around the teenager, who has already set several age-related marks in U.S. professional sport.
Early milestones and records
Saliven's rise has been rapid: at 14 years and 293 days he became the youngest player in the major professional sports in the United States (soccer, basketball, baseball, American football and ice hockey). He later became the youngest goalscorer in MLS history at 16 years and 198 days, and received his first red card at 16 years and 328 days.
Against Mexico he added the national-team record to that list, converting during a match that ended 3:0 in favor of the United States. The milestone underlines why Saliven is widely viewed as one of the most closely watched young talents in American football.
How his international breakthrough will influence his role at club level and his development remains a major talking point among observers; for now, his goal in the friendly has cemented another milestone in an already record-filled start to his career.
Photo: press material from the event
