In the World Cup semifinal, Kylian Mbappe controlled the ball with a smooth turn but Fabian Ruiz appeared suddenly to win possession. Ruiz then moved across the pitch wearing his red shirt. He prefers to be identified only by his first name in reports. His quick reading of play allowed him to stop a threat involving Adrien Rabiot and protect space on the right. This vision makes him a key choice for the coach when facing top opponents.
Luis de la Fuente considered Pedri for his creative passing but selected Ruiz against France for greater mobility and quick one-touch exchanges. Ruiz operates on the left of midfield, either next to Rodri or further forward. He can advance into attacking positions to score, shift wide to support wing play, or drop deeper to aid overlapping runs. He often delivers passes between defensive lines.
Ruiz receives little attention in highlight packages despite his influence. During the European Championship he scored twice, assisted twice, completed 88 percent of passes, won 24 tackles and recorded 21 recoveries. In brief World Cup appearances totaling 261 minutes he scored against Belgium, created five chances and passed at 92.5 percent accuracy. His PSG manager has praised his intelligence and essential role.
Ruiz attributes his work ethic to his mother. After his parents separated when he was twelve she raised three children alone in a town near Seville. She later worked at Real Betis cleaning dressing rooms while he trained there. He now recognizes the daily sacrifices she made to support his football ambitions.
