Growing up with a stepbrother who was already playing football would be an unusual experience, but that's exactly what Maya le Tissier faced when she was just a young girl. The Manchester United and England defender has spoken candidly about her childhood in Guernsey, where her mother married Alex Scott - the talented midfielder for Bournemouth.
As Maya grew up with Alex, who is now 11 years older than her, it's clear that their relationship was more than just sibling-like. In fact, the two have always been incredibly close, and Maya has often spoken about how much she admires Alex both on and off the pitch.
"I used to stage fights," Maya revealed in a recent interview, highlighting the unorthodox ways they would engage with each other as kids. Their dynamic was all part of what made their bond so strong, even if it wasn't always conventional.
Growing up with a stepbrother who was already established in football likely had its benefits for Maya's own sporting career. Having someone to look up to and learn from is invaluable, especially when it comes to the physicality and mental toughness required to succeed at the highest level.
Now, as Maya prepares to don the England Women's jersey for the first time, she can draw on the support of her stepbrother Alex - a player who has recently earned his first call-up. The sibling bond that formed in childhood has undoubtedly played a role in shaping Maya into the talented defender she is today.
It will be fascinating to see how Maya navigates the challenges and opportunities that come with representing England, and we can't help but wonder what advice Alex might offer from the sidelines - perhaps even on her way onto the pitch.
As Maya grew up with Alex, who is now 11 years older than her, it's clear that their relationship was more than just sibling-like. In fact, the two have always been incredibly close, and Maya has often spoken about how much she admires Alex both on and off the pitch.
"I used to stage fights," Maya revealed in a recent interview, highlighting the unorthodox ways they would engage with each other as kids. Their dynamic was all part of what made their bond so strong, even if it wasn't always conventional.
Growing up with a stepbrother who was already established in football likely had its benefits for Maya's own sporting career. Having someone to look up to and learn from is invaluable, especially when it comes to the physicality and mental toughness required to succeed at the highest level.
Now, as Maya prepares to don the England Women's jersey for the first time, she can draw on the support of her stepbrother Alex - a player who has recently earned his first call-up. The sibling bond that formed in childhood has undoubtedly played a role in shaping Maya into the talented defender she is today.
It will be fascinating to see how Maya navigates the challenges and opportunities that come with representing England, and we can't help but wonder what advice Alex might offer from the sidelines - perhaps even on her way onto the pitch.
Growing up with a sibling who's already into sports is defo a great experience for a kid like Maya. I mean, having someone to look up to and learn from can make all the difference in developing skills and mental toughness. And it's so cool that she has such a close bond with her stepbro Alex - it's clear they have each other's backs! 
Plus, it'll be awesome to see how Maya handles playing for England, especially since Alex is going through similar experiences. Can't wait to watch them both shine on the pitch 
I mean, can you believe how lucky Maya is?! She's got a stepbrother who's basically her footballing idol growing up and now she's about to represent England herself! It's like the universe was just waiting for their bond to shine through in this moment 
. And let's be real, it's not every day you get to say that your sibling dynamic has been a direct contributor to your success on the pitch 
. I'm literally so excited for Maya and Alex - can't wait to see them rock those England jerseys together 
. The fact that they've had to deal with all sorts of unconventional ways of showing affection as kids only makes their bond stronger, you know? It's like they were basically training each other to be the ultimate footballing siblings 
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. I'm really excited to see Maya take on the England Women's jersey and can't wait for some behind-the-scenes peeks at what Alex might be saying to her from the sidelines 
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i wanna no more abt their childhood & how it shaped maya into the defensivest star she is now 
. I mean, she's still gotta work hard and earn her own spot on the team, you know? It sounds like Alex might've had some advantages just 'cause he was already established, but what about all the other factors that went into Maya's success? Like, did she train twice as much or something? 
I need to see more than just a sibling bond being touted as the reason for her success. Where's the data on this?
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but hey at least they're makin' it work, right? Maya & Alex's dynamic is like a real-life superhero origin story - kid stages fights, kid becomes pro footballer, kid becomes England legend! 
I hope Alex gives her some solid advice and support โ sibling love is the best kind of motivation 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, Maya's got talent for sure, but the whole 'growing up with a pro footballer as a sibling' thing is just too convenient. It's like they're trying to make her out to be some kind of prodigy or something 
. Give me a break, Maya and Alex are just lucky, okay?
! growing up with a stepbro who's already crushing it in football is literally the coolest thing ever 
. it's amazing how their unconventional sibling dynamic actually helped them develop an unbreakable bond 
. this is just too inspiring! 
. It just goes to show that family ties can be a powerful source of motivation and support - not just for the kids, but also for the adults who are inspired by them 
And now Maya's gonna play for England and Alex is getting his first call-up... it's almost too convenient. I'm not saying anything bad about them, but let's just say I'll be keeping an eye on this story to see if there's more to it than meets the eye. 