Fabian Ruiz's Ballon d'Or Case: A Season Like No Other

Fabian Ruiz has put his name firmly into the Ballon d'Or debate – and he is not whispering it.

After a year in which he lifted both the World Cup with Spain and the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, the midfielder believes his trophy haul demands serious consideration, even if a three‑month knee injury interrupted his season.

“In terms of titles, no one has had a better season than me,” he told L’Equipe, laying out his argument with little room for doubt. “Individually, great players have had an excellent season. A World Cup with your country is the biggest title you can win.”

Ruiz leans heavily on that collective success. World champion. European champion at club level. Central to two teams that reached the summit. For a player whose game is built more on control than headlines, it is his medals that he wants voters to weigh.

He also knows the field is brutal. The Spain international name-checked Barcelona’s teenage phenomenon Lamine Yamal, widely seen as one of the frontrunners for the award. The message was clear: this is not a fantasy campaign; he understands exactly who he is up against.

Earlier, speaking to France Football, Ruiz had reflected on his 24th-place finish in last year’s Ballon d'Or voting and struck a more measured tone.

“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 blend of ambition and deference runs through his campaign. He wants recognition, but insists it must follow from the work he does for the team, not from a personal PR push.

Ruiz also knows the historical backdrop. Midfielders, especially those who do the graft between the boxes, often watch attackers collect the individual prizes. Yet he draws encouragement from a compatriot who broke that pattern.

“Rodri won the Ballon d'Or two years ago,” he reminded France Football. For Ruiz, that victory shifted the conversation. If a deep-lying midfielder can be crowned the world’s best, voters can no longer hide behind goals and assists alone.

“And although defenders and goalkeepers still find it difficult to gain recognition,” he added, “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 crux of his plea. Judge the work, not the glamour. See the influence, not just the numbers.

Whether the Ballon d'Or panel buys that argument is another matter. Ruiz has placed his season on the table – World Cup, Champions League, resilience through injury – and challenged the old hierarchy of stars. Now the question hangs over the vote: will the game’s most prestigious individual prize follow the goals again, or reward the architect in the middle of it all?