Liam van Nistelrooij insists he feels no added pressure from his famous surname after firing PSV to victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Youth League.

The young striker is becoming increasingly accustomed to the attention that comes with his surname, but the 18-year-old PSV forward insists it does not weigh on him.

Van Nistelrooij scored the decisive goal as PSV defeated Shakhtar Donetsk in the youth version of the Champions League on Thursday afternoon, securing an important victory that could prove valuable in the race for the next round.

The finish was a classic striker’s goal, with Van Nistelrooij showing the sharpness required inside the penalty area to settle a difficult contest.

“As a striker, you simply have to be sharp the moment your team reaches a promising position high up the pitch. Finding that exact spot where the ball is going to land, that’s something I always try to focus on,” he said.

The attention surrounding Van Nistelrooij is hardly surprising. He is the son of Ruud van Nistelrooij, one of the most prolific strikers of his generation, but the youngster believes that once the match begins, the family connection becomes irrelevant.

“It’s very simple. The moment you step onto the pitch, you have to do it yourself; it’s all about your own performance,” Van Nistelrooij said.

Until last year, Van Nistelrooij did not actually play under his father's famous surname. In consultation with his parents, he decided to stop using the name ‘Slaats’, which he had used until 2025.

He made that decision when he was younger to prevent his father's fame from becoming an unnecessary focus. Now, however, the teenager feels comfortable carrying the Van Nistelrooij name.

“I think my parents made that decision carefully when I was younger so that the focus wouldn't always be on that,” he explained. “Now that I’m a bit older, it is what it is, and I don’t feel any extra pressure.”

His focus is firmly on developing at PSV, where competition for places remains fierce.

Van Nistelrooij knows there is a long road ahead before he can establish himself in professional football.

“But that’s always the case at a club like PSV, at the top level in the Netherlands,” he said, as quoted by Rik Elfrink of Eindhovens Dagblad.

At Jong PSV, Van Nistelrooij is competing with other young forwards, including Mikkel Bro Hansen and Austyn Jones, both of whom are regarded as players capable of progressing into professional football.

The teenager has also had to overcome his own physical difficulties, with growing pains affecting his development for a period.

“I think so, yes,” Van Nistelrooij said when asked whether he could be a late bloomer like his father. “I even struggled with growing pains for a while, but that’s over now.”

His ambitions for the season are clear.

“My goal is definitely to make my professional debut this season and play some great matches in the UEFA Youth League,” he said.

The Youth League is also providing Van Nistelrooij with valuable experience against different styles of football.

“You come up against playing styles you might not encounter as often in the Netherlands. We watch footage beforehand so we know what to expect,” he added.

One fixture already stands out on his calendar.

PSV’s meeting with Real Madrid on November 24 will have a special significance for Van Nistelrooij Jr., who was born in the Spanish capital during his father's time as a world-class striker.

“I was born there, and I’m really looking forward to it,” the youngster said.

For now, Van Nistelrooij is determined to keep improving without letting expectations get ahead of him. He recognises that his physical development is still an important part of his next step.

“I still need to grow physically, especially. I need to put on a few kilos of muscle. That will allow me to take a great next step,” he concluded.

After his decisive contribution against Shakhtar, Van Nistelrooij has made his intentions clear. The surname may carry considerable history, but the 18-year-old is determined to build his own path at PSV.