Long regarded as a complementary player, Fabián Ruiz has established himself as one of the pillars of Paris Saint-Germain in 2024-2025. In a post-Mbappé PSG, resolutely focused on teamwork and possession, the Spaniard has become indispensable, embodying the transition to a more mature, balanced and technical game under Luis Enrique. Here’s how.
A player transformed: the rise of Fabián Ruiz
From criticism to recognition
After arriving in Paris in 2022, Fabián Ruiz got off to an inauspicious start, often criticized for his lack of impact and discretion in major matches. But the 2024-2025 season marked a turning point.
Buoyed by the confidence of Luis Enrique, his former coach, Ruiz has adapted to different roles in midfield, alternating between relay player, organizer and sometimes even sentinel. His versatility and intelligence have won over fans and observers alike.
Statistics and season highlights
The figures speak for themselves: 56 games in all competitions, 6 goals, 10 assists, impressive consistency and growing influence at key moments, particularly in the knockout stages of the Champions League, but he was also one of the main architects of PSG’s Champions League victory. His ability to be present at major events has been one of the driving forces behind the Parisian season.
Radar infographic: Profile of Fabián Ruiz (2024-2025)
The scouting report on Fabián Ruiz (fbref) over the last 365 days reveals a player with undeniable technical qualities, particularly in the attacking and build-up phases. Percentile analysis, which compares his performances to those of other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, highlights his strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths (percentile ≥ 85)
Fabián Ruiz particularly stands out in several key areas that define his style of play:
Total shots (94th percentile): A remarkable propensity for taking chances, placing him among Europe’s most attacking midfielders.
npxG (93rd percentile): His ability to create quality chances is exceptional for a midfielder.
npxG + xAG (93rd percentile): Combining his personal threat with his ability to create for others, he excels in this overall metric of attacking impact.
Progressive passing (91st percentile): A special talent for moving the game forward with forward passes.
Assists (90th percentile): His vision of the game enables him to deliver decisive passes with regularity.
Penalty area touches (90th percentile): He doesn’t hesitate to project himself into dangerous areas.
These statistics confirm the profile of a complete midfielder, capable of both creating and completing attacking moves.
Areas for improvement (percentile ≤ 50)
Despite his undeniable qualities, certain defensive aspects of his game remain open to improvement:
Aerial duels won (10th percentile): A notable weakness in aerial play.
Countered balls (31st percentile): He doesn’t excel at intercepting opposing passes.
Tackles (37th percentile): His one-on-one defensive statistics are below average.
Interceptions (45th percentile): His defensive reading of the game still needs improvement.
These figures confirm that Fabián Ruiz is more of a creative midfielder than a retriever, with a profile clearly geared towards attacking play and game-building.
Comparison chart: Fabián Ruiz at Napoli, Betis and PSG
This logarithmic bar graph compares Fabián Ruiz’s cumulative statistics at his three main clubs (Napoli, Betis, PSG) on four major criteria: games played, goals, assists, progressive passes. We can see that while he accumulated the most games and progressive passes at Napoli, his total at PSG remains very high, particularly for progressive passes, confirming his driving role in the construction of the Parisian game.
Evolution at Paris Saint-Germain
Since joining PSG in 2022, Fabián Ruiz has seen an interesting evolution in his statistical performance, with a notable improvement in the 2024-2025 season.
Tactical impact: a key role in Luis Enrique’s system
A complementary and versatile midfielder
Positioned mainly as a left-sided relay midfielder, Fabián Ruiz made the most of his vision and passing ability. His complementarity with Vitinha and Joao Neves enabled PSG to control the tempo of matches, ensure the transition between defense and attack, and secure possession in the build-up phases.
An essential link in the Parisian team
In Luis Enrique’s system, midfield balance is essential. Ruiz has established himself as the guarantor of this stability, capable of pressing when the ball is lost, cutting off the opposition’s passing lines and throwing the ball cleanly.
His volume of play and ability to project himself forward have often unlocked closed situations, while guaranteeing effective defensive cover. His tactical intelligence also makes him invaluable to his coach. Less visual than pure technique, he excels in the art of positioning. He knows where to go and when to do it, and this brings great results on the pitch.
A discreet but indispensable leader
Influence in the dressing room and on the pitch
Although he may not be the most outspoken, Fabián Ruiz is universally respected in the Paris dressing room for his professionalism and ability to raise the level of play at major events. Several team-mates and members of staff have praised his influence:
“Fabián is a player who understands the game better than many. He knows when to accelerate, when to stall, he makes others play. He’s a silent but indispensable leader.”
(Luis Enrique, PSG-Arsenal press conference, April 2025, RMC Sport)
“Playing with Fabián is easy. He sees everything before anyone else, and he always puts me in good conditions. You can tell he’s taken on a different dimension this season.”
(Vitinha, Canal+ interview, March 2025)
“This year, Ruiz is everywhere. He gets the team going, he breaks our lines. You can tell he’s grown in confidence and has become the boss of the Paris midfield.”
(Martin Terrier, Ouest-France, February 2025)
“We don’t talk enough about Fabián Ruiz. He’s the player who’s made the most progress under Luis Enrique. He’s become the hub of PSG, and that shows in the big games.”
(Jérôme Rothen, RMC, May 2025)
An example of collective success
Ruiz’s career path symbolizes the transformation of PSG 2025: less focused on individuals, more on the collective. His self-sacrifice, patience and ability to seize his chance make him a role model for the youngsters at the training center, and a symbol of a more mature PSG, capable of adapting and reinventing itself.
Fabián Ruiz, the indispensable man in the spotlight
The 2024-2025 season will have definitively established Fabián Ruiz as an essential link for PSG. With his consistency, tactical intelligence, creativity and team spirit, he has established himself as one of the pillars of the team, actively contributing to the club’s national and European successes.
Away from the spotlight, he embodies this new Parisian era, where the strength of the group takes precedence over individuality, and where technical and tactical excellence are the new norm.
