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It's often challenging being the brother of a professional footballer - particularly when your older sibling is considered one of the best players in the world.

The younger Mbappe, who is 18, is the sibling of Real Madrid star Kylian, who is eight years older. It's a substantial shadow to break free from.

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

Now at Lille and recently scoring his first goal for the club, Ethan is scheduled to come up against PSG on Sunday, and will aim to gain attention against the team where he began his professional journey.

Walking in Kylian Mbappe's Footsteps

Goals dominate attention, so considering Ethan's position is in midfield he is not expected to outshine his brother in that area.

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

His mentality was commended as he emerged from the PSG academy, seeming to handle effectively with the pressure that came with being an Mbappe.

"He is a well-rounded, polished kid who is respectful even if he is clearly in the shadow of his brother, which is challenging for him. But I find him calm and with a real personality. I find that he manages this expectation quite effectively."

Praised for his football intelligence, calmness on the ball and distribution skills, Ethan made an impact on the coaches at PSG and was awarded his league debut at just 16, entering as a substitute late in a 3-1 win against Metz, with Kylian having scored two of the goals.

"Ethan is a quite promising player who can play in several positions," PSG boss Luis Enrique commented after that game. "I am sure he will feature more. He has a prestigious surname, which is challenging to match."

Overall, 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 connected with his choice to depart and move to Real Madrid, and was willing to remain at the French giants if it meant his brother got a new deal there also.

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

Forging His Own Career Path

Ethan's debut campaign at Lille was hampered by fitness issues, which denied him the chance to face his brother in a European match last September.

"My aspiration of playing against my brother in the Champions League is far off, but it has not vanished," Ethan said on social media 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 aim to make his mark as a consistent starter.

He has already achieved a important landmark by scoring his first goal for Lille recently - 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 participating in the Europa League this season, there will be no opportunity for Ethan to fulfill his dream of playing against his brother in a competitive match just yet, but that leaves him with the opportunity to concentrate on building a reputation for himself in his own capacity.