Overview
- Ruiz told Téléfoot that winning the Ballon d’Or would be “a dream” and an honour, publicly framing the award as a personal objective.
- He completed a trophy-laden 2025–26 cycle with Paris Saint-Germain, claiming Ligue 1, the Champions League, the 2025 Trophee des Champions and back-to-back UEFA Super Cups.
- Ruiz featured in all eight of Spain’s World Cup matches, started four, scored once and in the final delivered a 91.7% pass accuracy with two chances created before his 62nd-minute substitution.
- PSG moved quickly to extend Ruiz’s deal through June 2028, but the club has made a slow start to the 2026–27 Ligue 1 season, remaining winless after three fixtures as European commitments loom.
- Midfielders typically attract less Ballon d’Or attention than forwards, so Ruiz’s combination of team trophies, World Cup metrics and consistent minutes strengthens a rare individual case and could influence voters this season.