Fabian Ruiz: The Quiet Contender for the Ballon d’Or After Historic Season with PSG and Spain

The Quiet Contender Amid a Noisy Race

The race for the Ballon d’Or often resembles a political campaign, with high-profile contenders and their respective clubs utilizing media appearances to sway voters. This year, prominent figures like Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal have dominated headlines, while clubs such as Bayern Munich and various national factions rally openly behind players like Harry Kane and Lionel Messi. Even Paris Saint-Germain, which boasts 10 nominees among the 30 finalists, has strategically chosen to spotlight select individuals like Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia rather than launching a promotional push for Fabian Ruiz.

Rather than seeking the spotlight, the former Napoli midfielder has opted to let his silverware speak for itself. In a recent interview with Onda Cero, Ruiz addressed his candidacy directly: “I don’t think I need to say it myself because everyone knows the trophies that I’ve won this season. Obviously, I’m the player who has won the most trophies, but I leave the campaigns to the others.”

Proving Essential at Club and International Levels

Ruiz’s path to a Ballon d’Or nomination required weathering significant adversity, notably a four-month absence due to a knee injury during the winter. Upon his return in the spring, he immediately reclaimed his anchoring role in the PSG midfield, delivering a stellar performance in a crucial 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in Germany en route to European glory.

His resilience mirrored his fortunes with the Spanish national team under manager Luis de la Fuente. After initially losing his spot in the starting lineup at the World Cup, Ruiz elevated his play as the tournament progressed. He scored the opening goal in a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium and orchestrated the midfield in a 2-0 semifinal win against France, showcasing the understated positional intelligence that has defined his 50-cap international career.

Embracing the Dream Without the Obsession

While acknowledging that winning world football’s most prestigious individual award would be a dream, Ruiz maintains a grounded perspective on the voting process. Speaking to As, the midfielder admitted that hearing his name mentioned alongside the game’s elite brings a smile to his face, even if self-promotion runs counter to his personality.

“The truth is that when people talk to me about it, a smile always appears on my face,” Ruiz said. “Yes, obviously I am not going to lie to you, all players like to be recognized for their work, like in all professions. If you do well and people outside the team recognize your performances, it is nice.”

As the football calendar moves forward, Fabian Ruiz leaves the media maneuvering to his peers, relying entirely on his performances on the pitch to validate an extraordinary season.