Fabián Ruiz has made a bold statement in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, pointing directly to his remarkable collection of trophies as he makes his case for football’s most prestigious individual prize.

The Spanish midfielder believes his success over the past year gives him a compelling argument for the award, insisting: “In terms of trophies, nobody has done better than me.”

It is a confident claim, but one that is difficult to dismiss when Ruiz’s recent achievements are examined.

A Trophy Cabinet That Keeps Growing

Ruiz has enjoyed an extraordinary period of success with both club and country. His rise to the top of European and international football has accelerated since joining Paris Saint-Germain, where he has become an important part of the midfield.

With PSG, Ruiz has collected multiple Ligue 1 titles, Coupe de France triumphs and Trophée des Champions victories. His most significant achievement came in 2025, when PSG finally lifted the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.

PSG defeated Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 final, completing a historic season in which the French giants won four trophies: the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Champions League. Ruiz was among the players who made a meaningful contribution to that European campaign.

His honours have continued to grow since then.

In 2026, Ruiz added another Champions League medal with PSG and, just weeks later, became a World Cup winner with Spain. The achievement put him in an extremely exclusive group of players who have won both the Champions League and the FIFA World Cup in the same year.

That combination gives Ruiz an unusually strong trophy-based argument.

Champions League and World Cup in the Same Year

Winning either the Champions League or the World Cup can define a player’s career. Winning both in the same calendar year is considerably rarer.

Ruiz’s 2026 became historic when Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final. Only seven weeks earlier, he had helped PSG win the Champions League after a dramatic final against Arsenal.

According to L’Équipe, Ruiz joined an exclusive group of just 11 players to win both the World Cup and Champions League in the same year. His name now sits alongside legendary players such as Franz Beckenbauer, Roberto Carlos and Raphaël Varane.

For a Ballon d’Or candidate, those achievements carry enormous weight.

The award is not simply about counting medals, however. Individual performances, consistency, influence in major matches and a player’s overall contribution also matter. That is where Ruiz’s case becomes more complicated.

Is Ruiz Really the Ballon d’Or Favourite?

Ruiz’s biggest argument is the sheer quality of the trophies he has won.

He is not simply pointing to domestic titles. His résumé includes the European Championship with Spain in 2024, the Champions League with PSG, and now the World Cup with Spain. His club honours also include multiple Ligue 1 titles, Coupe de France victories and French Super Cups.

But the Ballon d’Or is an individual award.

That distinction is important.

A player can win major trophies without necessarily being the best individual player in the world. Historically, Ballon d’Or voters have considered a combination of individual quality, statistics, performances in decisive matches, consistency and collective success.

Ruiz therefore needs more than a trophy cabinet to convince every voter.

Nevertheless, his case is stronger than it might initially appear because he plays a position where statistics do not always tell the full story.

As a central midfielder, Ruiz’s influence can come through ball progression, possession control, defensive work, tactical intelligence and his ability to dictate the rhythm of a match. These qualities are often less spectacular than scoring 40 goals in a season, but they can be crucial to winning major competitions.

Ruiz Has Also Been a Major Part of Spain’s Golden Generation

Ruiz’s international résumé is particularly impressive.

Before becoming a World Cup winner, he had already helped Spain win the UEFA Nations League in 2023 and the European Championship in 2024. He was also named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2024.

That means his recent international career has produced a remarkable sequence of success.

For Ruiz, the argument is therefore not simply that he has collected medals while playing a peripheral role. He has established himself as an important midfielder for one of the strongest national teams in world football.

At club level, his PSG career has followed a similar trajectory.

When he reached 100 appearances for the club in January 2025, PSG noted that he had already won two Ligue 1 titles, two Trophée des Champions trophies and a Coupe de France during his first two-and-a-half seasons in Paris.

He has since added even bigger prizes.

The Ballon d’Or Debate Is Far From Over

Ruiz’s statement is therefore understandable.

If the question is “Who has won the most important trophies?”, he has an exceptionally strong case. A Champions League title and a World Cup in the same year is an extraordinary achievement, particularly when combined with his previous European Championship and Nations League success.

However, if the question is “Who was the best individual footballer?”, the debate becomes much more complicated.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or race contains several elite candidates, and voters will have to decide how much importance to place on individual brilliance compared with team success. Ruiz’s trophy argument may be unmatched, but the award will ultimately depend on the complete picture.

What cannot be disputed is that Fabián Ruiz has transformed his résumé into one of the most decorated of his generation.

From Napoli’s Coppa Italia triumph to multiple trophies with PSG, a European Championship with Spain and now the World Cup, his career has entered extraordinary territory.

And with another Champions League title added in 2026, Ruiz has every reason to believe he belongs in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

“In terms of trophies, nobody has done better than me.”

It is a bold statement.

But when the trophies include the World Cup and Champions League in the same year, it is certainly a statement that deserves to be taken seriously.