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Fabian Ruiz may not grab headlines like Lamine Yamal or Rodri, but Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder quietly etched his name into the history books on Sunday.
As Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ruiz reached an unprecedented milestone: 50 appearances for Spain without tasting defeat.
That’s 35 wins and 15 draws in a Spain shirt, an unbeaten run unmatched in the national team’s history.
Spain’s Unsung Midfield General
Ruiz reclaimed his place in Spain’s starting XI for the final ahead of Pedri and justified every bit of his manager’s faith.
While Ferran Torres grabbed the winner and Rodri dictated the rhythm, Ruiz provided the balance that allowed Spain to suffocate Argentina throughout the contest.
Luis de la Fuente has trusted Ruiz since their days together with Spain’s Under-21 side, and that long-standing relationship has paid off. Alongside Rodri, Ruiz controlled midfield, cut off Argentina’s passing lanes and repeatedly forced Lionel Messi to drop deep in search of possession.
The result was one of the most dominant displays ever seen in a World Cup final, with Spain restricting the defending champions to just two shots across 120 minutes while creating chance after chance themselves.
A Career-Defining Season
Ruiz’s World Cup triumph capped what is comfortably the finest campaign of his career.
After arriving at PSG from Napoli in 2022, the midfielder initially struggled to establish himself as an undisputed starter. Under Luis Enrique, however, he has blossomed into one of Europe’s most complete midfielders.
The 2025-26 season saw Ruiz win Ligue 1, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and now the FIFA World Cup with Spain.
Remarkably, he won every competition he entered during the campaign while playing a pivotal role in each success.
Those achievements could firmly place the 30-year-old among the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, even in a Spain side filled with stars.
