Fabian Ruiz's Remarkable Season and Ballon d'Or Aspirations
Fabian Ruiz has no doubts about the scale of his season. World champion. Champions League winner. Three months lost to a knee injury, yet still convinced he has done enough to sit at the Ballon d'Or table.
"In terms of titles, no one has had a better season than me," the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder told L'Equipe, laying out his case without flinching. "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 argument, but not an empty one. Ruiz was central as Spain lifted the World Cup and then added the Champions League at club level, a double that usually defines careers, not just campaigns. For him, the collective weight of those trophies should count heavily when the votes are cast.
He knows, though, that this is no one-horse race. The conversation keeps circling back to Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage phenomenon, already spoken of as a leading favourite for the award. Ruiz does not ignore that noise; he measures himself against it.
While his medals glint, he accepts that others have dazzled statistically. That is often where midfielders fall behind. Goals and assists dominate highlight reels, while control, balance and tempo rarely make the cut. Ruiz wants that lens to change.
His perspective is shaped by experience. Speaking to France Football, he reflected on finishing 24th in last year’s Ballon d'Or voting and simply making the shortlist of 30.
"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."
That humility sits alongside a quiet insistence: what he does for his teams should be valued, even if it cannot be reduced to a simple number on a graphic.
Ruiz also leans on a powerful recent precedent. "Rodri won the Ballon d'Or two years ago," he reminded France Football. For years, the award seemed locked in the orbit of forwards. Rodri’s triumph cracked that pattern open, giving midfielders a modern reference point and defenders and goalkeepers a sliver of hope.
"And although defenders and goalkeepers still find it difficult to gain recognition," Ruiz added, "I believe what matters today is the role a player performs more than his position on the pitch."
That idea stretches beyond the voting booth. He sees it as a message to the next generation.
"It is important to set an example for children who are starting to play football," he said, "so that they also look at midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers."
The trophies are already in his hands. The question now is whether the Ballon d'Or electorate is ready to reward the kind of season Ruiz believes should define a winner – one built on influence, responsibility and titles, not just the final touch.
