Lille‘s Ethan Mbappé Faces Ongoing Health Concerns Despite Promising Performances
Lille, france – Recurring injuries continue to plague Ethan Mbappé, raising concerns for the 18-year-old midfielder’s growth since joining Lille in the summer of 2024.
Mbappé underwent surgery for a severe hamstring injury in late April and initially returned to competition on September 14th, scoring against Toulouse. However, he suffered a setback during the match against Metz on October 26th, sidelining him for a month. He recently returned to action, appearing as a substitute in Lille’s 4-2 victory over Paris FC.
The young player continued his return with a decisive assist for Benjamin André in lille’s 4-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday, prompting praise from coach Bruno Genesio. “ethan showed, once again, very interesting things,” Genesio stated after the match. “I hope his body will give him a little peace so he can continue.”
despite his impact when fit, Mbappé’s availability remains a significant worry. Teammate Thomas Meunier highlighted the need to allow Mbappé freedom on the pitch. “It’s rare when Ethan comes on and doesn’t make the difference,” Meunier said. “I too try to help him less, because it restricts him. We have to give him space because one on one,with his speed,his percussion,he must have this space. He must seek, he must provoke.”
Meunier added, “Every time Ethan played, he made the difference. He always provoked, always brought something. I hope for him that in the weeks and months to come, he will be able to avoid injuries. I think that’s kind of what he’s been carrying around for some time. And then having more and more playing time.”
