Fabián Ruiz: Titles are not enough to secure Ballon d'Or race

Fabián Ruiz continues to stake his claim for the 2026 Ballon d'Or after an exceptional season, winning the UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain and the FIFA World Cup with Spain.

Ruiz said in statements to the newspaper "L'Équipe" about his chances of winning the award: "It depends on the voters. The most important thing for me is to put myself at the service of the team, while trying to be among the best. I was lucky to be among the thirty players nominated last year, and I hope to finish this year in the highest possible position."

The Paris Saint-Germain player ranked 24th in last year's Ballon d'Or standings, before raising his ambitions after a season filled with titles. However, he emphasized that simply having his name among the nominees is a great source of pride for him.

He added: "Being among the list of the thirty players is an honor in itself. They can vote for whoever they see fit. I am very grateful and proud of my nomination. In terms of titles, I don't think there are many who have achieved what I have, but individually many players have had a fantastic season, and their level is beyond doubt."

Fabián Ruiz also spoke about the difficulty midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers face in competing with forwards for the Ballon d'Or, emphasizing that Rodri has already proven that a midfielder can win the award. He said: "It is clear that players who score goals, especially forwards, receive greater recognition. But Rodri won the Ballon d'Or two years ago. I believe that what matters most today is the role a player performs rather than their position on the pitch." He added that giving more recognition to midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers could encourage children to view these positions as a pathway to success.