David Silva—the former attacking midfielder for Spain, Real Sociedad, and Manchester City, among others—spoke to the radio station Cope during the program El Partidazo. It was an opportunity for the player, who retired in 2023, to name his pick for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. He chose Fabián Ruiz, the 30-year-old midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain and the Spanish national team.
“He doesn’t get enough recognition”
“For me, the team effort is what matters most, because you can’t win without it. But if I had to give the award to someone, it would be Fabián, because he has won the most titles over the last two years. He has been a key player for Paris Saint-Germain and for the national team. He doesn’t get enough recognition—I don’t know why—because he is a fantastic player. I admire him greatly; he has done an incredible job while staying out of the limelight.”
The trouble with the Ballon d’Or—aside from the fact that it has recently come to dominate the football conversation while sidelining team achievements—is that Ruiz is far from being the favorite. Yet, he is an excellent player who has just won almost every possible trophy in a single season, including the Champions League and the World Cup—all while remaining undefeated with the national team. His importance to Paris was clearly evident, even during his absences.
But that isn’t enough to compete with the goals scored by forwards. While goals are obviously important, they tend to monopolize attention and “analysis” to an excessive degree. Ruiz can at least appreciate this show of support, even though a spot in the top three would come as a pleasant surprise.
