Cavan Sullivan Becomes First Footballer to Wear a Fully 3D Printed Boot in a Professional Match

Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan made history on July 23, 2026, becoming the first footballer to wear a fully 3D printed boot in a top-level competitive match. The 16-year-old debuted Adidas’ Project R.A.P. (Radical Athlete Perception) football boot during Philadelphia’s 3–1 MLS victory over the New York Red Bulls, wearing a pair custom-printed to the exact specifications of his feet.

Project R.A.P. uses additive manufacturing to create footwear tailored to an individual athlete’s anatomy and the specific demands of their sport. Adidas describes the boot as a “future-facing live innovation concept,” with no launch date or consumer release yet confirmed.

Adidas Chief Creative Officer Alasdhair Willis said Sullivan was the ideal athlete to introduce the technology in a competit