After more than four months out with a hamstring injury, Ethan was brought on by coach Bruno Genesio in the 81st minute, with Lille trailing 0-1 and struggling.

In the 90th minute, VAR intervened, determining that a Toulouse player had handled the ball in the penalty area and awarding Lille a penalty. From the spot, Nabil Bentaleb slotted the ball low to the right corner to equalize.

Ethan Mbappe celebrates the winning goal in Lille's 2-1 victory over Toulouse in the fourth round of Ligue 1 at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, 14/9/2025. Photo: AFP

The climax came in the eighth minute of added time when Ethan shone with a close-range finish into the roof of the net, sealing a 2-1 victory. The 18-year-old scored his first professional goal after 5 appearances for PSG and 14 for Lille.

"There's nothing better than returning to the pitch with a goal," Ethan shared after the match. "Last season, I went through so many injuries. But those difficulties have strengthened my spirit and made me stronger."

Ethan Mbappe's goal.

Living in the shadow of his older brother, Kylian Mbappe, a top global striker, was once a significant pressure, but Ethan affirmed, "It was difficult at first, but I've gradually accepted it. I'm happy to be Kylian's younger brother."

Born in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, into a family with a rich football tradition, Ethan followed in the footsteps of his brother, Kylian, and his adoptive brother, Jires Kembo Ekoko. His father, Wilfrid Mbappe, is a coach of Cameroonian origin, while his mother, Fayza Lamari, is a former handball player of Algerian descent.

Ethan began his career at the local club Bondy in 2015 before joining the PSG academy in 2017, coinciding with the team's loan signing of Kylian. In 2021, he signed a three-year training contract and made his first-team debut for PSG in a friendly win against Paris FC in December 2022. In the 2023-2024 season, Ethan made his first appearance in the Ligue 1 squad and made his professional debut in a 3-1 victory against Metz on 20/12/2023.

The Mbappe brothers when they were both playing for PSG in 2023. Photo: Icon Sport

In the summer of 2024, Ethan left PSG after his contract expired and signed a three-year deal with Lille. There, he chose the number 29 shirt and immediately made an impression with an assist in his debut against Reims. Just a few days later, Ethan made his first start in Ligue 1 and continued to play in the Champions League play-off round against Slavia Prague. However, a serious injury kept him out for several months, including a match against Real Madrid, where his brother Kylian plays.

On 4/3/2025, Ethan returned to the starting lineup in the Champions League against Dortmund. Six months later, at the age of 18, he scored his first goal in Ligue 1 against Toulouse—a significant milestone marking a new beginning in his career.

"While Kylian is having a brilliant start with Real Madrid, at Lille, his younger brother Ethan has also sent a message: the Mbappe family doesn't just have one goal-scoring machine," commented Spanish newspaper AS.

Hong Duy (according to AS)