Over the past season, Fabián Ruiz has established himself as one of the standout midfielders of the moment. His performances on the pitch were instrumental in Paris Saint-Germain winning the 2024–25 Champions League and in the Spanish national team triumphing at Euro 2024.

All this competitive success earned him a nomination for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. However, his path to the top suffered a major setback that ultimately forced his own manager to admit a mistake – something rare among the elite.

Luis Enrique, who now manages him in Paris, left him out of Spain’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Some time later, the manager did not hesitate to admit his regret: “I didn’t take him to the World Cup and I think I was wrong; I can say that now. He should have been there.”

But what exactly did he do on the pitch to make his manager change his mind? The answer came from the manager himself: “He is one of the best players I have in terms of playing in support of his teammates.”

This transformation didn’t happen by magic: there’s a technical explanation. In this Champions Academy article, we’re going to find out why Luis Enrique had to admit his mistake and why Fabián Ruiz became a key player for his teams.

Tactical altruism: Fabián enhances his teammates

Altruism, in a nutshell, means acting with the benefit of others in mind rather than one’s own. In football, ‘tactical altruism’ occurs when a player makes decisions on the pitch that make his teammates’ jobs easier, even if that means not getting in the goal photo. Fabián Ruiz is a specialist in this.

Much of this unseen work happens when he doesn’t have the ball. Fabián is constantly on the move to draw defenders away and free up areas of the pitch. If a defender or winger needs a safe outlet, he moves into position to offer an easy pass. If the team needs to push forward, he occupies the right spaces to unsettle the opposition.

Luis Enrique summed up these qualities very well, highlighting how complete his game is: “He’s capable of playing with the ball at his feet with great clarity and delivering decisive passes with ease. He’s capable of playing between the lines, he’s capable of playing without the ball. He gets into scoring positions, he has a shot, he does the defensive work.”

This ability to do everything allows him to adapt to whatever the team needs at any given moment. His body position when receiving the ball allows him to turn and drive forward quickly, adding pace to the attack. At the same time, his efforts to win the ball back help maintain order in defence.

This collective effort does not go unnoticed at the highest level. As the Spanish manager himself pointed out: “He was named the best midfielder of the tournament at the European Championship. I mention this in case anyone thinks I’m making it up.” Fabián is proof that playing for the team is the best way to win matches.

The complete midfielder: A technical analysis in 5 key points

To understand how Fabián applies this ‘tactical selflessness’ on the pitch, one need only observe five fundamental technical aspects that define his game:

  • Constant scanning: Before receiving the ball, he always looks around him. This allows him to know the exact position of his teammates and opponents, enabling him to make the right decision before the ball reaches his feet.

  • Body positioning: When receiving a pass, he turns his body towards the opposition’s half. This stance saves him time, as he doesn’t need to stop to turn, which brings fluidity and pace to the attack.

  • Drawing defenders to create space: Fabián often drives the ball towards the opposition. He does not do this to dribble or seek the limelight, but to force defenders to come out and mark him, thereby leaving a teammate free in an advantageous position.

  • Through balls: He stands out for his precision in playing vertical passes that pierce the opposition’s defensive lines. He acts as a link between the defenders and the forwards.

  • Defensive cover: His work doesn’t stop when his team loses possession. He uses his long stride and tactical positioning to press the opposition’s build-up, intercept passes and win the ball back.

Balance across the board: The importance of Fabián

In both Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain and the Spanish national team, the system of play relies heavily on the wingers. In such set-ups, Fabián Ruiz is the player who gives meaning to transitions. His work in midfield acts as the bridge connecting defence with attack.

His primary role is to perfectly position the wingers. Through his through-balls, Fabián manages to quickly find pacy wingers such as Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola at PSG, or Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams for Spain. His precision allows them to receive the ball in a favourable position, ready to take on their man one-on-one.

But his role is not limited to organising play from the back. Fabián also stands out for his runs into the opposition’s box. He knows how to read the spaces and burst into the danger zone by surprise, linking up with the move. This allows him to contribute with shots from distance and important goals, a quality he demonstrated in spades during Euro 2024.

Furthermore, his tactical intelligence is vital for maintaining overall balance. When attacking teammates push forward, Fabián acts as an excellent defensive cover. He covers the open spaces and thwarts the opposition’s counter-attacks, giving them the confidence to attack without fear.

“I didn’t take him to the World Cup and I think I was wrong; I can say that now” – Luis Enrique

For all these reasons, Luis Enrique had to admit his mistake... Fabián Ruiz proved that to dominate matches, you don’t need to hog the limelight, but rather understand what the team needs at every moment.

His nomination for the 2025 Ballon d’Or therefore appears to be the ultimate reward for a player who plays to make others better and who, to the surprise of many, prompted the Spanish manager to express his regret.