Malik Jakupovic Scores First MLS Goal as Philadelphia’s Young Striker Continues His Rise

Malik Jakupovic had been waiting for his moment in Major League Soccer, and it finally arrived on Sunday night.

The 17-year-old forward scored his first MLS goal in Philadelphia Union’s 5-0 victory over San Diego FC, adding the final goal of a dominant performance in the 94th minute. It was a fitting reward for a player who has spent the last two years progressing through Philadelphia’s development pathway and increasingly finding opportunities around the first team.

Jakupovic’s goal came on a night that belonged to Philadelphia’s young players. Cavan Sullivan scored twice and assisted on another goal, while Jakupovic completed the five-goal performance late in the match. Sullivan and Jakupovic, both products of the Union system and both born in 2009, have emerged as part of a particularly exciting group of young players coming through Philadelphia’s academy.

For Jakupovic, however, the moment was the culmination of a much longer progression.

Born on June 24, 2009, in Sterling Heights, Michigan, the 6-foot-3 forward joined the Philadelphia Union Academy in 2023 at just 14 years old. He quickly developed into one of the more productive attacking players in the club’s pathway, eventually making the jump to Union II in MLS NEXT Pro.

His first full professional season made the potential clear. In 2025, Jakupovic scored eight goals in just 16 appearances for Union II, doing so in only 417 minutes. He also made an immediate impression when he first stepped onto the professional field, scoring in his pro debut.

That production earned him increasingly frequent opportunities with the first team. Philadelphia signed him to a Homegrown contract in April 2026, keeping him with the club through the 2029-30 season with an option for an additional year. At the time, the Union highlighted his growth with Union II, his first-team call-ups and his performances with the U.S. Youth National Team.

Jakupovic had already made his MLS debut on March 21 against Chicago Fire, entering in the second half and playing 28 minutes. He also featured for Philadelphia in the Leagues Cup before Sunday’s breakthrough goal.

His development has also been reflected at international level. Jakupovic has represented the United States at U-16 and U-17 level, and he was one of the standout scorers during the 2026 Concacaf U-17 World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored five goals in a single match during a 10-0 victory over St. Kitts and Nevis and finished the qualifying tournament with eight goals.

That international production mirrors what Philadelphia has seen from him at club level: a physically imposing center forward with a proven ability to find the back of the net.

Now, Jakupovic has his first MLS goal to show for his progress.

The timing is particularly significant for Philadelphia, which continues to lean heavily on its academy as a source of first-team talent. Cavan Sullivan’s recent surge has attracted much of the attention, but Jakupovic’s breakthrough against San Diego offered another reminder that the Union’s pipeline runs deeper than one headline name.

At 17, Jakupovic still has plenty of development ahead of him. But after scoring consistently with Union II, earning a Homegrown contract, representing the United States and making his way into the MLS rotation, he has now added another important milestone to his young career: his first goal on the league’s biggest stage.