Ballon d'Or 2026: Fabian Ruiz stakes his claim, sole candidate with Champions League and World Cup

Fabian Ruiz has no intention of letting the odds decide for him. In an interview granted Thursday to Spanish newspaper AS, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder clearly stated his ambitions for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, whose ceremony will be held on October 26.

The Spaniard occupies a singular position on the thirty-man shortlist: he is the only candidate to have won both the Champions League and the World Cup in 2026. A collective record he himself highlighted. “Well, why not? The truth is that, collectively, I have been the most decorated player. I believe I have won seven of them in recent years. I am very happy with this season and what I have accomplished,” he declared.

This plea comes in a particular context: PSG ultimately directed its institutional support toward Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, after initially putting forward Ruiz. A sidelining that the player appears to have taken in stride. “I felt important at PSG and in the national team. That is paramount for a player, and especially for me.”

Ruiz also downplayed the lack of formal support from his club, insisting on external recognition as a driving force. “That people talk about me is a satisfaction for me to be recognized for the work I do. And well, I always want to go higher, so why not dream of the Ballon d’Or?”

The trophy winner will be announced on October 26. Dembélé, crowned in 2025, is among the designated favorites for a possible succession to himself.