Fabian Ruiz has never been so close to being invited into the debates around the Ballon d’Or. Winner of the Champions League with PSG then the World Cup with Spain, the Spanish midfielder has had an exceptional season on a collective level, to the point of being today one of the rare players to be able to boast such a track record. Asked by The Team on his place in the race for the most prestigious individual award, the former Neapolitan however preferred to adopt a speech imbued with humility. “It’s up to the voters to decide. The most important thing for me is to make myself available to the team, while seeking to be one of the best. I was lucky enough to be among the 30 nominees last year (the Spaniard finished 24th in the final ranking) and hope to finish as high as possible this year. » Aware of the competition surrounding this 2026 edition of the Ballon d’Or, Fabian Ruiz did not seek to campaign. Quite the contrary.
The Parisian insisted on the pride that his nomination among the best players in the world already represents and left the choice to the jurors. “To be among the 30 is a privilege. Let them vote for those who they think deserve it most. I am already very grateful and proud to be nominated. » Asked to compare his season to that of his rivals, the world champion still made a weighty argument. “It depends. In terms of titles, no. Individually, great players have had an excellent season and their level is beyond doubt. There are many candidates. Being one of the players cited for the Ballon d’Or is already a privilege and an immense satisfaction. It is clear that those who score goals, especially attackers, are more valued. But Rodri won the Ballon d’Or two years ago. Even if defenders and goalkeepers still have difficulty distinguishing themselves, I think that today what counts is more the role than the position on the field. Setting an example so that children who are starting out also look at midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers is important.” A measured response which confirms the profile of Fabian Ruiz more focused on collective success than on individual light.
