Who is Fabian Ruiz? Spain goalscorer vs Belgium in FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals

Fabian Ruiz has started two games for La Roja in the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Spain are squaring off against Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals at the Los Angeles Stadium. La Roja took early control of the game, making nine attempts on goal and winning three corners in the first half.

However, until the first hydration break, no player came close to getting on the scoresheet. Soon after the hydration break, Fabian Ruiz, playing in place of Pedri, broke the deadlock for La Roja in the 30th minute. He scored from close range, giving Thibaut Courtois no chance to secure the ball from going inside the net.

Fabian Ruiz Profile

• Age: 30
• Position: Central midfielder
• Club: Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1)

Fabian Ruiz was born on April 3, 1996, in Los Palacios y Villafranca, province of Seville, Spain. He commenced his football journey with La Unión Los Palacios in his formative years. He credits his mother for igniting his interest in football.

Later, he joined Real Betis Cantera in 2004 at the age of 8. After a decade with the youth side, Ruiz made his senior debut for Betis Deportivo Balompié on September 21, 2014, against Marbella FC in the Segunda División B.

Fabian Ruiz made his first-team debut for Real Betis in August 2015. In his time at Betis, he played 59 games and had ten goal contributions. In 2017, he joined Elche CF on loan. However, on his return to Estadio de La Cartuja in the subsequent season, he solidified himself as one of the starters, eventually attracting Serie A side Napoli.

Ruiz joined Napoli on a five-year contract until 2023. After four seasons in Italy, the 30-year-old signed a five-year contract with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). In his 167 appearances for PSG, Ruiz has scored 16 goals and has provided 26 assists across all competitions.

He has won two UEFA Champions Leagues, four Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups, three French Super Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup with Les Parisiens. Ruiz also finished 24th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings.

Fabian Ruiz received his national team call-up under Luis Enrique in 2019. He debuted on June 7, 2019, in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against the Faroe Islands, coming on as a substitute for Isco in the 74th minute. Since then, he has earned 48 caps for La Roja, scoring 7 goals.

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