Fabián Ruiz has firmly positioned himself among the frontrunners for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, pointing to his extraordinary trophy haul with Paris Saint-Germain and the Spanish national team during the most successful period of his career.
The Spanish midfielder made his case during an interview with Diario AS ahead of the award ceremony, which is set to take place at the Palladium Theatre in London on October 26.
“Why not?” Fabián stated. “I was the player who won the most collective trophies, taking home seven titles. I am truly happy to see my name among the nominees.”
He added: “The Ballon d’Or is a trophy that every player dreams of winning, and it pleases me that people recognize the work I put in. I will try to finish as high as possible, and why shouldn’t I dream about winning it?”
Ruiz stands out as the sole nominee on the 30-man shortlist to complete the European double, having played a key starting role in PSG’s Champions League triumph before anchoring Spain’s World Cup victory.
The 30-year-old made nine Champions League appearances during the 2025–2026 campaign, recording a goal and an assist as PSG secured five trophies over a 12-month period, highlighted by back-to-back Ligue 1 and Champions League crowns.
Fabián added the World Cup trophy to an international resume that already features the 2023 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024. During the interview, he also highlighted reaching his 50th cap for Spain without suffering a single defeat.
The former Real Betis and Napoli midfielder previously finished 24th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting, marking his second consecutive inclusion in the final 30-man shortlist.
