Fabian Ruiz: A Strong Ballon d'Or Contender
Fabian Ruiz knows exactly where he stands. World champion. European champion. And now, in his eyes, a serious Ballon d'Or contender.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has just come through the defining season of his career, lifting both the World Cup with Spain and the Champions League at club level. He missed three months with a knee injury, yet he is adamant the decisive moments he did produce should carry real weight when the votes are cast.
Speaking to L'Equipe, Ruiz did not bother with modesty. "In terms of titles, no one has had a better season than me," he declared. "Individually, great players have had an excellent season. A World Cup with your country is the biggest title you can win."
It is a bold line, but the logic is clear. In an era where individual awards are often framed through goals and highlight reels, Ruiz leans on the one thing that still cuts through everything else: trophies. The biggest ones.
He is not blind to the landscape, though. Ruiz openly recognises the level of competition, name-checking Barcelona’s teenage phenomenon Lamine Yamal as one of the frontrunners for the prize. Yamal’s rise has reshaped the conversation around the award, but Ruiz believes his own season, stacked with silverware, deserves to sit in that same debate.
This is not the first time his name has appeared on the Ballon d'Or radar. In an earlier interview with France Football, Ruiz reflected on finishing 24th in the voting last year and being part of the 30-man shortlist.
"Where do I see myself in the Ballon d'Or race? That comes down to the voters," he said. "The most important thing for me is to put myself at the disposal of the team, while at the same time striving to be among the best. I was fortunate to be among the list of thirty nominees last year. Being among the thirty is a great honour."
There is ambition there, but also a clear sense of hierarchy: team first, recognition after. Ruiz knows midfielders rarely dominate these conversations. For years, the spotlight has tilted towards forwards, towards numbers, towards the players who finish moves rather than those who shape them.
He is pushing back against that.
Ruiz draws strength from a recent example close to home. "Rodri won the Ballon d'Or two years ago," he reminded France Football. That triumph, he believes, cracked open a door for players who control matches rather than headline them.
"And although defenders and goalkeepers still find it difficult to gain recognition," he continued, "I believe what matters today is the role a player performs more than his position on the pitch. And it is important to set an example for children who are starting to play football, so that they also look at midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers."
That is the core of his argument. Look beyond the goals. Look at influence, responsibility, and the way a player bends a game to his will. For Ruiz, the Ballon d'Or should not be reserved for the final touch; it should also honour the invisible work that makes those moments possible.
He has the medals. He has the platform. Now he waits to see if the voters are ready to reward the kind of season that defines a career, even when it does not always dominate the scoreboard.
