American teenager Cavan Sullivan, who carries Bangladeshi heritage through his mother and has brothers already playing for Bangladesh, became the first footballer to wear a bespoke pair of 3D printed Adidas boots in top level competitive football on Thursday.
The 16-year-old produced a standout display over 85 minutes as his side Philadelphia Union beat New York Red Bulls 3-1 in Major League Soccer at Subaru Park, ending an eight game winless run since the World Cup break. While pink boots have become a common sight since the World Cup, Sullivan’s footwear marked something entirely new, a pair of lightweight cleats 3D printed to the exact specifications of his feet as part of Adidas’s Project R.A.P. (Radical Athlete Perception) range, launched in March.
The boots were developed with input from Paris Saint-Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Atletico Madrid forward Ademola Lookman, both of whom are set to wear them from next season. Alasdhair Willis, chief creative officer at Adidas, said Sullivan was chosen to debut the boots because of his talent and profile. “Innovation at Adidas is about creating the best for the athlete, at speed,” Willis said. “Cavan is the perfect athlete to showcase the potential of this innovation, a future star on and off the field, with an open and curious mindset matched with an exciting playing style.” Adidas has taken a similar approach in basketball, with Mikel Brown Jr recently debuting the BB.01 shoe, which uses the same 3D printed lattice technology, during NBA Summer League.
Sullivan did not need a goal to make his mark. He completed six successful dribbles, the most of any player on the pitch according to Opta, created a chance and won nine of his 12 ground duels. “Cavan looked dangerous in a lot of moments when he was able to beat his defender one on one and really sharpen in some of his combinations,” said Union interim manager Ryan Richter.
Sullivan’s talent has long attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs. His homegrown contract with Philadelphia Union already includes a pre-arranged, multi million dollar transfer agreement to join Manchester City, and he began training with the Premier League champions during the summer of 2026, though the move will not formally complete until he turns 18 in 2027.
Despite representing the United States at international level, Sullivan regularly pays tribute to his mother’s Bangladeshi heritage by wearing custom boots stitched with the flags of the USA, Germany and Bangladesh. His maternal family hails from Bangladesh, making Sullivan and his brothers eligible to represent the Bangladesh national team through heritage. His brothers Ronan and Declan both represented Bangladesh at the SAFF Under-20 Championship, which the side went on to win, a rare direct family link between one of American soccer’s most talked about young prospects and Bangladeshi football.
