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It can be difficult being the brother of a professional footballer - especially when your brother happens to be one of the best athletes globally.

The younger Mbappe, aged 18, is the brother of Real Madrid superstar Kylian, who is eight years older. It's a significant legacy to break free from.

Both players played for Paris St-Germain simultaneously, but when Kylian opted to leave the Parisian club at the conclusion of his deal and move to Real Madrid last summer, Ethan's contract was similarly not extended at the club.

Currently with Lille and fresh from scoring his first goal for the club, Ethan is set to come up against PSG on Sunday, and will aim to make the headlines against the club where he began his professional journey.

Walking in Kylian Mbappe's Path

Goals dominate attention, so given Ethan's role is a midfielder he is unlikely to outshine his brother in that department.

But the youngster is seen as an promising prospect in his own right.

His mentality was praised as he emerged from the PSG youth system, appearing to cope well with the weight of expectation that came with being an Mbappe.

"He is a balanced, polished kid who is courteous even if he is obviously in the shadow of his brother, which is challenging for him. But I find him composed and with a real personality. I find that he manages this expectation quite effectively."

Praised for his soccer IQ, composure on the ball and distribution skills, Ethan made an impact on the staff at PSG and was awarded his first league appearance at just 16, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-1 win against Metz, with Kylian having netted a brace of the goals.

"Ethan is a very interesting player who can play in several positions," PSG boss Luis Enrique said after that game. "I am sure he will play again. He has a famous last name, which is difficult to match."

In total, he made five appearances for PSG before departing at the end of his contract last summer, although there was certain debate around his exit.

Kylian has previously implied that Ethan not getting a renewed deal at PSG was linked to his decision to leave and move to Real Madrid, and was prepared to remain at the Paris club if it meant his brother received a contract extension there as well.

"It's the thing that impacted me the most," Kylian said. "He [Ethan], didn't ask for anything. His Real Madrid was PSG. What Real meant to me, his childhood dream, was PSG."

Forging His Own Career Path

Ethan's debut campaign at Lille was affected by fitness issues, which denied him the opportunity to face his brother in a Champions League match last September.

"My aspiration of facing my brother in the Champions League is far off, but it has not vanished," Ethan said on online platforms after he was declared unavailable of that match.

Ethan made just a few of first-team appearances last season but now free of injury, he will hope to make his mark as a first-team regular.

He has recently reached a significant milestone by scoring his first goal for Lille earlier this month - an stoppage-time volley to secure a 2-1 win against Toulouse.

That dramatic winner briefly put Lille top of Ligue 1 and although they have since dropped to sixth, Ethan continues to participate in the senior squad, having made two additional league appearances.

With Lille competing in the Europa League this season, there will be no opportunity for Ethan to realise his dream of facing his brother in a official game just yet, but that leaves him with the chance to concentrate on making a name for himself in his own right.