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It's often difficult to be the younger sibling of a professional footballer - particularly when your brother is considered one of the best players globally.

Ethan Mbappe, who is 18, is the brother of Real Madrid star Kylian, who is almost a decade older. It's a significant shadow to try to emerge from.

The two brothers played for Paris St-Germain simultaneously, but when Kylian decided to depart the Parisian club at the end of his contract and join Real Madrid last summer, Ethan's agreement was also not renewed at the club.

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

Walking in Kylian Mbappe's Path

Scoring grab the headlines, so considering Ethan's position is in midfield he is not expected to outshine his brother in that area.

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

His mindset was praised as he broke through from the PSG youth system, seeming to handle effectively with the weight of expectation that came with being an Mbappe.

"He is a balanced, polished kid who is respectful even if he is obviously in the influence of his brother, which is challenging for him. But I find him calm and with a real personality. I find that he handles this expectation rather well."

Praised for his soccer IQ, composure on the ball and distribution skills, Ethan made an impact on the coaches at PSG and was awarded his league debut at just 16, coming on as a late substitute 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 multiple roles," Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique commented after that game. "I am sure he will play again. He has a famous last name, which is challenging to live up to."

Overall, he completed five appearances for PSG before leaving at the conclusion of his agreement last summer, although there was some controversy around his departure.

Kylian has previously implied that Ethan not getting a new contract at PSG was linked to his choice to depart and move to Real Madrid, and was willing to instead stay at the Paris club if it meant his brother got a new deal there also.

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

Creating His Distinct Career Path

Ethan's debut campaign at Lille was affected by fitness issues, which denied him the opportunity 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 online platforms after he was ruled out of that match.

Ethan made just a handful of senior appearances last season but now free of injury, he will aim to establish himself as a consistent starter.

He has already achieved a important landmark by netting his initial strike for Lille earlier this month - an stoppage-time volley to ensure a 2-1 win against Toulouse.

That dramatic winner briefly put Lille at the summit of Ligue 1 and although they have subsequently fallen to sixth, Ethan remains be involved in the senior squad, having made two further league appearances.

With Lille competing in the Europa League this season, there will be little chance for Ethan to realise his dream of playing against his brother in a official game at present, but that leaves him with the opportunity to concentrate on making a name for himself in his own capacity.