Fabián Ruiz: PSG and Spain's serial winner
He only went and did it again -- Spain and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz continued his incredible run for club and country with his 11th major title since joining the capital side. Learn more about his story in our latest profile.
Southern roots and success in Italy
Born in the small Andalusian city of Los Palacios y Villafranca -- also the birth place of Jesus Navas and Ruiz's Spain teammate Gavi, Ruiz joined Real Betis in 2004 at the age of eight. Promoted to the first team at eighteen, it would take several seasons for him to make his real breakthrough under Quiqué Setién in the 2017-18 season. His play attracted the attention of Napoli, who bought him that summer for €30M, despite his barely having 50 professional caps.
His first season for the Partenopei saw the team finish second, while a historic Coppa Italia triumph marked the second, with a European U-21 win with Spain in between as he was named Player of the Tournament. Tactically versatile and able to play as a six, eight or even a ten, Ruiz continued to shine for Napoli despite tactical and managerial churn before joining Paris Saint-Germain on a deadline-day deal in August of 2022.
Fabián Ruiz. 50 games. 0 defeats, capped off with victory in the World Cup final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/45TSxz2x2b
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) July 20, 2026
A new level in France and a surprising return
Given the mostly mixed records of Spanish players in Ligue 1 (and indeed specifically at the Parc des Princes), the move was a massive risk, but it soon paid off. After some unevenness in form due to injury in his first two seasons, his talent reached its top level under countryman Luis Enrique in 2024/25, building on a summer in which he'd help Spain to a European title while being named to the team of the tournament.
A nailed-on starter in midfield alongside João Neves and Vitinha, his physicality and drive helped provide a counterpoint to the more clever and industrious play of the two Portuguese internationals as PSG romped to the treble and reached the final of the Club World Cup. This season proved more difficult as nagging injuries saw him miss much of the early part of the calendar year, but he was back in the side come the run-in as the capital side again won Ligue 1 McDonald's and the Champions League.
Building on that form with his country, he soon outstripped the likes of Pedri and Gavi to start in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Rodri, allowing his team to have a balanced approach that allowed them to set a record for fewest goals conceded in a World Cup on the way to a second successive major international title. Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the oft-repeated statistic that in an incredible 50 matches for Spain, La Roja have never lost, a simply incredible run that dates back to his debut in 2019. With another title in hand, there's little else to say besides "¡Bien hecho, Fabián!"
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