US prodigy Cavan Sullivan becomes first to wear custom 3D-printed Adidas boots, honours Bangladeshi roots
The bespoke boots, custom-made using Adidas' 3D-printing technology to match Sullivan's feet, feature the flags of Bangladesh, Germany and the United States, reflecting his multicultural background. They are the first of their kind to be worn in a competitive match.
Sixteen-year-old US football prodigy Cavan Sullivan became the first player to wear Adidas' new custom 3D-printed boots in a competitive match on 23 July, with the Bangladesh flag among the personalised details representing his family heritage.
The bespoke boots, custom-made using Adidas' 3D-printing technology to match Sullivan's feet, feature the flags of Bangladesh, Germany and the United States, reflecting his multicultural background. They are the first of their kind to be worn in a competitive match.
Sullivan's Bangladeshi roots come through his maternal grandmother, Sultana Alam, who was born and raised in Dhaka before moving to the US to pursue a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. She later worked for the United Nations.
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His maternal grandfather, Klaus Krippendorff, was born in Germany and is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, his middle name, Ayaz, reflects his maternal family's heritage.
Through his family background, Sullivan is eligible to represent the US, Germany or Bangladesh in international football.
Sullivan, who plays for the Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union, made history on 17 July 2024 when he made his MLS debut aged 14 years and 293 days, becoming the youngest player to appear in a major North American professional sports league.
Widely regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in US football, the 16-year-old continues to attract global attention both for his performances on the pitch and milestones such as becoming the first player to wear Adidas' custom 3D-printed boots in a competitive match.
