Fabián Ruiz’s initial tenure at Paris Saint-Germain was lukewarm, and the subsequent appointment of his compatriot, Luis Enrique, as manager did not bode well for the Spaniard. Ruiz had arrived at the Parc des Princes as part of a large, perhaps haphazard, midfield recruitment effort in the summer of 2022.
That summer saw the arrival of Vitinha, Carlos Soler, and Renato Sanches alongside Ruiz. None of the new signings particularly impressed in their debut campaign, though their paths quickly diverged. Vitinha has since transformed into a world-class talent, while Sanches struggled with recurrent injuries that had previously plagued his career. Soler, meanwhile, failed to settle and eventually returned to his native Spain.
Vitinha’s luck turned immediately following Luis Enrique’s arrival, with the former Spain manager widely credited for the Portuguese midfielder’s transformation. However, few would have predicted that the same positive influence would extend to Ruiz.
Luis Enrique’s appointment at PSG came just 18 months after he controversially excluded Ruiz from Spain’s 2022 World Cup squad. While Ruiz had been part of the 2021 Euros squad, reports emerged suggesting a disagreement between the two after Spain’s elimination—a claim Ruiz has consistently denied. Regardless of the reason, the truth remains that Lucho subsequently froze Ruiz out of the national team until the manager left his post, allowing Ruiz to return under Luis de la Fuente.
Given their history, Ruiz would have been justified in believing his days were numbered when Luis Enrique joined him in the French capital. He was facing a manager who had previously cast him aside, his debut season was underwhelming, and he now had to contend with the rapid emergence of Warren Zaïre-Emery—a local prodigy and the new face of PSG`s youthful, evolving project. Zaïre-Emery’s status as the club’s poster-boy further complicated Ruiz’s attempts to secure a consistent starting role.
Despite the unfavorable hand he was dealt, Ruiz managed to play it expertly. To the surprise of many, he quickly curried favor with Luis Enrique. The PSG manager later publicly conceded his error, stating, “It was an error not to call him up for the 2022 World Cup.”
Throughout the 2023/24 season, Luis Enrique steadfastly defended Ruiz, even when French pundits doubted his abilities, arguing that he was capable in Ligue 1 but insufficient for the demands of the Champions League. Despite this criticism, Ruiz earned the manager’s trust in high-stakes matches, making nine appearances (seven starts) in the latter competition, where he registered two assists.
In a clear statement of faith, Luis Enrique decided that the former Napoli midfielder was the man for the big occasion, evidenced by the fact he made only 14 starts in the domestic league that year. Ruiz built upon this base, culminating in a spectacular Euro 2024 campaign with the national team, during which he was arguably the player of the tournament as Spain lifted the trophy.
Ruiz rapidly became an undeniable mainstay. His involvement skyrocketed from 35 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24 to an incredible 61 appearances the following season. He was integral to all 17 of PSG’s Champions League games, starting 14, as he cemented his place alongside Vitinha and João Neves. Together, they formed what was arguably the best midfield trio in the world last season. While the two Portuguese players often garner much of the credit due to their style and age profile, Ruiz was certainly no less influential or important.
Ruiz’s influence is subtle, lacking flashy statistics because he functions primarily as a metronome—a player crucial for maintaining ball circulation and helping a possession-dominant side control territory. He is always available to receive the ball and consistently looks for positive passes to break through the compact lines typical of Ligue 1 defenses. Unlike the frantic energy of Vitinha and Neves, Ruiz moves with an elegant glide. At 29, he operates as the composed, elder statesman of the midfield.
A source within PSG emphasized his value:
“He is an astute player. As soon as he plays and plays well, our team is difficult to destabilize. When we are attacking, he sets the tone; when we are defending, he is already preparing the next attack.”The source summarized his essential role:
“He is a metronome. Vitinha sets the tempo, Fabián brings the balance.”
The sentiment is certainly true: when Ruiz performs well, PSG performs well. His significance is reflected in his remarkable unbeaten record for the club—51 consecutive games without a loss between May 2023 and April 2025. He is equally indispensable for Spain, maintaining an international unbeaten streak of 41 games (excluding the penalty shootout loss to Portugal in the Nations League).
Ruiz’s trajectory marks one of the most significant turnarounds in recent football history: in 2022, he was out of the picture for Spain; in 2023, his PSG future looked bleak; yet, by 2024, he lifted the Euros trophy, and in 2025, he celebrated a Champions League victory with PSG. He is now indispensable for both club and country.
Mark Thompson
