He moves slowly but purposefully, Fabian Ruiz. He has the stride of a player who makes an impact without rushing, yet thinks quickly, because the pass must then be fast, precise and purposeful. Above all, with him in the side, Spain have not lost in either regulation or extra-time.
Whenever the Spanish national team has played with the Andalusian midfielder on the pitch, they have always achieved a positive result in the 52 matches he has played. The only setback came in the 2025 Nations League final, when La Roja lost to Portugal on penalties.
It is a hugely telling statistic that underlines his importance to the way Luis de la Fuente's team play and function. To give him a starting place, the coach has even left a player like Pedri on the bench.
With Rodri acting as a permanent compass, the physicality and positioning of the 30-year-old, currently with Paris Saint-Germain, gives Spain extra security during defensive phases. Then, when it is time to build play, the former Betis man comes to the fore with his outstanding creativity.
Ideal skill set
There is no other midfielder in Spain's squad who combines playmaking, shooting from distance and power in his repertoire. And although he was not among the most eye-catching players in the win over Croatia, which secured the Iberians' 40th consecutive match without defeat, he is a mainstay of the European and world champions.
Beyond the basic statistics, which show that he scored just once at the last World Cup - a long-range strike against Belgium in the quarter-finals that made it 1-0 at the time - the Los Palacios native is a quiet leader who has gradually earned the role he deserves.
In the last two Nations League wins over England and Croatia, he completed 37 of his 40 attempted passes, recording an accuracy rate of 92.5% against the English. In the match against the Balkan side, he raised the quality of his play even further, completing 42 of 44 passes for a success rate of 95.5%.
Unflashy but highly effective, Fabian is rounding off a career that, at 30, has reached full maturity.
It is the maturity of a humble player who does not like to take centre stage but always stands out through his consistent work. He combines it with outstanding football intelligence, evident every time he lifts his head to find the best option.
Paris fell in love with him on the 24th of October 2018, when he produced a superb display for Napoli in a match in which only a late piece of magic from Angel Di Maria enabled the side featuring Neymar and Mbappe to avoid a shock defeat.
Work rate and positioning
His professionalism has made him a key figure for Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain, a coach who, as he does with players, values dedication before quality. Fabian has shown that he excels in both virtues. His lack of pace when running is offset by an unparalleled understanding of positioning, as well as the work ethic that has always set him apart.
The son of Chari, who followed him from the time he was a child battling for a starting place in Betis' youth academy, he experienced a sudden growth spurt in his early teens. It first caused him back and neck pain, but later helped him emerge even stronger - not only physically, but mentally too.
Spain won a European Championship and a World Cup within two years, and Fabian deserves immense credit: he was the humble glue holding together a team packed with talent.
Born and raised in Naples, forged in Spain and Argentina, Antonio Moschella is a Football specialist editor for Flashscore. He's always looking for the best option to mix the proper football experience with backpack travel.
