Few players on this list will have had a wider variation in the quality of their performances last year than Fabián Ruiz, the only France-based player to feature in the Euro 2024 final.
Last summer, the Andalusian was one of the standout performers as a risk-taking Roja convincingly earned their fourth continental title. Far from being a one-tournament wonder, Ruiz continued his impressive form on the international stage into the autumn, scoring a double in Spain’s Nations League win over Switzerland in September. At the Parc des Princes, though, it’s been a different story altogether.
Whether his underperformance in Paris is down to a tactical mismatch or an ill-fitting environment, the fact remains that the 28-year-old has been largely unconvincing during his time in the French capital. The former Napoli man is often singled out when PSG’s midfield rigidity and stale possession are decried, and his output at either end of the pitch has scarcely disproved the critics.
At times, Ruiz even finds himself operating as the sole defensive midfielder in Luis Enrique’s lineup, given that the summer departures of Danilo Pereira and Manuel Ugarte have left the team short-handed in that position. In this role, his inarguable quality on the ball should see him break lines and dictate play from deep – if only the opposing forwards would afford him enough time in possession. Instead, the midfielder struggles to exert any creative influence on matches, his most significant contribution instead coming in the form of some crucial last-ditch tackles.
Ruiz offensively defunct
The Spaniard has nevertheless reproduced his international form in flashes with Les Parisiens this year, notably scoring the eventual winner in the Coupe de France final in May. The passage of play itself was a microcosm of what he brings to the table when at his best: a one-on-one battle won high up the pitch, a sliding tackle to recover the ball, before some intelligent movement to receive a back-post cross.
The Andalusian’s sudden drop in attacking output since moving to Paris has become all the more conspicuous given he found the net five times for La Roja in 2024 – as many as his total across three seasons in Ligue 1. While Luis Enrique has ostensibly sought to remedy this by handing his countryman further licence to roam up the pitch on occasion, it does seem that only a change in the surrounding system will draw the best out of Ruiz – whether that happens at PSG or elsewhere.
