Ballon d’Or, his journey, his mother, Luis Enrique… Fabian Ruiz opens up | OneFootball

Fabián Ruiz, the 30-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Spain midfielder, spoke to Radioestadio Noche on the sidelines of La Roja’s current international break gathering. He spoke in particular about the World Cup, his journey, life at PSG, and the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Ruiz: “I’d rather it be the people saying it than me.”

Have you already made room in the cupboard for the World Cup replica?

Yes, we need to make room for it, you know, I think it’s really important. And then, I’m really happy that we can all be together again after this World Cup, and very happy to have been able to do it. It must have been like seeing each other again after a summer camp, a very intense bond, 50 days. Of course, we come back as champions, all of Spain is talking about us, and then suddenly we’re here together again. Yes, we missed each other. After spending so many days together, and now it’s already been two months since that final, we were really looking forward to seeing each other again, to reliving those moments. I think it’s wonderful, and we can’t wait to play.

Someone told me, “You have to campaign for Fabián.” And I replied: “Well, I’ll let him have the microphone.”

Well, let the people do it. I’d rather it be the people saying it than me.

Ruiz: “Because in the end, everyone knows it.”

Mbappé’s campaign; it’s like a video message straight to camera: “Hi, I’m Fabián Ruiz, I’ve won everything, I’m a starter, [laughs] I always play, and see you in Paris!”

Well, I think there’s no need to point it out, right? Because in the end, everyone knows it. I mean, the titles I won last season... Obviously, I’m the most decorated player, but well, I’ll leave the campaigning to others. We all like to be recognized, don’t we? For the work we do, and I think that’s pretty nice, isn’t it? I hope I can lift an individual trophy one day too.

Ruiz: “I owe everything to my mother for all the effort and sacrifices she made.”

What remains of that boy from Los Palacios who arrived at Betis?

Well, the truth is I’m happy. And as I’ve always said, I never could have imagined everything I’ve managed to achieve doing what I loved most: playing football. That boy just played for fun. And I think that in the end, I owe everything to my mother for all the effort and sacrifices she made back then, without knowing what the future had in store for me. And I always say that, you know?

I’m happy and proud to have achieved so much, but above all of the affection people show me and of being an example to them. For the children who see me on television and for everyone to whom I can pass on values, that’s what matters most to me. The truth is that, as you say, you never imagine being among the best players in the world, and I’ve been in the top 30 for two years in a row, so this year I hope to climb a little higher.

Ruiz: “I was surprised myself.”

The €30 million transfer to Napoli, a major step?

I was surprised myself. That they paid so much back then for such a young player, and Ancelotti, you know? He turned out to be an incredible coach, and it was wonderful that he trusted me. For me, at that moment, it was something very special. And I think in January I had renewed my contract with Betis.

My release clause was €15 million, and we agreed on €30 million, kind of as if to say, or at least I was saying: “OK, don’t worry, nobody is leaving, nobody is coming, I’m staying at Betis for life, OK?” And five months later, Ancelotti arrived, and I was really happy that a coach like Carlo believed in me at such a young age. My career took off, then it was Napoli, then Paris Saint-Germain, the national team came along, the titles kept coming, fame arrived.

Ruiz: “you have to protect yourself, isolate yourself a little.”

And at what point do you lose touch with reality? I mean, at what point do you lose sight of what matters, the context, the kid who went to training, the one his mother used to wake up for training? Do you ever lose that?

Of course, no one should harass you, but well, photos matter. “Hey, Fabián, this...” One way or another, you have to protect yourself, isolate yourself a little. In the end, the upbringing I had, especially from my mother and my family from a very young age, that’s what stays with me, you know?

The values they passed on to me. I think that’s the most important thing for me. As I always say, before being a player, I’m a person. In the end, I see this as just another job. It’s just that our work gets more recognition. But I’m happy when people stop us because... it’s something, well, for me, it’s truly incredible. And the affection they show us, that’s what matters, right?

Ruiz: “so that tomorrow people remember Fabián for who he was.”

The example we set, on and off the pitch, that children... well, want to be like us. For me, that’s the greatest triumph a player can experience, and that’s what I always try to achieve: to improve. I always try to improve, to be a better person, a better player too, because after all it’s my job, but above all a better person, so that tomorrow people remember Fabián for who he was.

Ruiz: “I think it made things easier for me”

When Luis Enrique arrived at PSG, the coach who hadn’t taken you to the World Cup, was that a concern?

Look, everyone kept saying it to me, right? When the coach arrived, people said that since he hadn’t taken me to the World Cup, I wouldn’t play. But I always replied that they were looking at it the wrong way, while I was looking at it positively. He was a Spanish coach who knew what he liked, who already knew me well, and I think it made things easier for me to get off to a good start.

During his time there, and I think I eventually said it in a press conference, obviously at that moment the decisions coaches make are very difficult when you have so many good players and can only take 25 or 26, and you have to leave some out. It’s difficult, obviously, you change your view later on, but at the time I think he made the right decision, and for him now it’s just an anecdote. And now I tell him: “Listen, I played in a World Cup and I won it!” [laughs]

You’re Fabián the Invincible! I once read in Paris that you never lose with the national team.

I’ve played 50, and well, let’s not say it too loudly, [laughs] hopefully there will be many more! And I hope I can play many more matches, that would be good for everyone.

Ruiz: “we’re very happy.”

What’s life like in Paris?

Well, it’s good, really, we’re very happy. Yes. And your mother comes and goes? 18 minutes and 34 seconds. My mother, yes. When she comes, when she can, and when we let her come, well, she’s absolutely delighted to be in Paris. Now she has free time, so we see her every other day. She’s there with us, and happy.

We can enjoy the city, go see the Eiffel Tower, go out for dinner at a restaurant. Yes, it’s true, Paris has nothing to do with Naples. In Naples, I couldn’t go out, whereas here it’s the complete opposite, right? We have more freedom to walk around the streets, we have a bit more privacy, and I really appreciate being able to walk around with my family when they come to visit me.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.