The only player to have won the World Cup and the Champions League this season, Fabian Ruiz has strong assets to put forward in the race for the Ballon d’Or. After finishing 24th last season for his first nomination, the Spanish world champion can easily aim higher this year. In an interview given to France Footballhe expressed his ambitions, even if appearing in the top 30 already represents a great success in his eyes.
“Where do I stand in the race for the Ballon d’Or? 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. Being 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”he confides.
“I was important in the decisive moments”
When asked if certain players had a better season than him, his answer was as follows: “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.. In his eyes, his absence for three months due to a knee injury (from January to April 2026) does not constitute a black point in his candidacy. He believes he was “important in decisive moments, at club and national level”.
Luis Enrique started him in the semi-final return against Bayern Munich (1-1, 6-5 cumulative score), then in the final against Arsenal (1-1, 4-3 tab). As for Luis de la Fuente, he installed him in his eleven from the quarter-finals against Belgium, in place of Pedri. If he remains well aware of the weight given to offensive players in the race for the Ballon d’Or, Ruiz wants to believe in his chances by relying on the precedent Rodri: “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.” Response on Monday October 26.
