Ethan Mbappé - Lille's super-sub "a starter in the making"

When Lille need a goal, Ethan Mbappé has become the man that Bruno Genesio turns to. The former PSG midfielder showed why once again over the weekend as he was at the heart of the game-deciding action.

Mbappé's excellent Ligue 1 McDonald's record

"Whenever Ethan comes on, he either scores or assists, or creates a couple of chances," said Genesio at the start of this month. It came after Mbappé had come off the bench against Le Havre, setting up Hamza Igamane for a late winner.

Whilst fitness, as he builds back from an injury sustained at the end of last season, has limited his game time, Mbappé has certainly used his minutes on the pitch well. In just 139 minutes of football in Ligue 1 McDonald's, across eight matches, he has an impressive three goals and one assist.

It means that Mbappé is either scoring a goal or assisting one every 34 minutes in Ligue 1 McDonald's.

Scored the winner against Marseille ✔
Watching PSG in Paris one day after ✔

Ethan Mbappé making sure he never forgets where he came from 🗼 pic.twitter.com/v8PWY7v60a
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 6, 2025

He was once again decisive over the weekend. This time, he started as LOSC welcomed Marseille to the Stade Pierre Mauroy. His intelligent touch from a long ball completely wrong-footed Geronimo Rulli in the OM goal, and the France youth international calmly slotted home into the gaping goal.

"It's true that, whenever he plays, he is decisive at the moment. I am happy about what is happening to him because he has never given up, despite going through difficult moments," said his LOSC teammate, Nathan Ngoy, last weekend.

He added, "Ethan is a calm guy. He doesn't let it go to his head; he laughs. We are all "chill" guys, and that is the strength of this team."

A man for the big occasion

Mbappé has kept grounded, despite his impact this season. Not only has he become Genesio's go-to man, he is also a man for the big occasion. As well as the winner against Marseille, he also salvaged a draw late on against his formative club, PSG, earlier this season, whilst his goal against Toulouse (2-1) also secured all three points. Overall, he has earned his team seven points this season, all against sides who sit inside the top half of the Ligue 1 McDonald's table.

Given his effectiveness, the question is inevitably: can Mbappé play more often? Genesio responded after Friday's 1-0 win over Les Phocéens.

"If his body allows, he is a starter in the making for this team. He still needs to strengthen muscularly and must manage his load in the best way, but I hope that he will continue to progress and train without niggles because he is really an interesting player," said the Lille manager.

For now, Mbappé is LOSC's joker card, a get-out-of-jail-free, but in the long-term, he could be so much more for a club that are currently fourth and pushing for a return to the Champions League.

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