Enrique Surprises Everyone: His Favorite for the Ballon d'Or
PSG coach Luis Enrique names Spaniard Fabian Ruiz as the top candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with captain Marquinhos also throwing his support behind the midfielder.
PSG coach Luis Enrique names Spaniard Fabian Ruiz as the top candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with captain Marquinhos also throwing his support behind the midfielder.
Luis Enrique, the coach of Paris Saint-Germain, has caused quite a stir with his choice for the main favorite to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Instead of the expected names like Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland, the Spaniard has put his compatriot and PSG midfielder, Fabian Ruiz, in the spotlight.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Sport, held on August 11, 2026, during preparations for the UEFA Super Cup, Enrique did not hold back in his praise for the midfielder. His statement has echoed throughout the football world.
"Fabi has won the World Cup, the European Championship two years ago, the Champions League twice in a row, and the Nations League... Ballon d'Or! Ballon d'Or, for sure!" Luis Enrique told Sport.
Enrique was not the only one at PSG to highlight Ruiz's qualities. The midfielder also received backing from team captain Marquinhos, who summed up the feeling at the club. "All that's missing is the Ballon d'Or, that's it," said the Brazilian defender, alluding to the impressive collection of trophies Ruiz has already amassed in his career.
Over the past season, Ruiz has been a key figure both at PSG and for the Spanish national team under coach Luis de la Fuente. With the Parisian club, he won the French league title, the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup, the French Super Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup, while with the national team, he had already lifted the World Cup, European Championship, and Nations League trophies.
Although Enrique's favorite is clear, the race for the most prestigious individual award is far from over. The competition is extremely strong, with main candidates including Mbappé, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Erling Haaland.
A special place in this story belongs to Georgian forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whom many see as the "dark horse." Despite missing the World Cup, he played a crucial role in PSG's second consecutive Champions League title. His statistics in European competitions are impressive: in 16 matches, he scored 10 goals and provided 6 assists. In the knockout stages of the Champions League, he was even more prolific, contributing to 10 goals (6 goals and 4 assists), earning him the title of the competition's best player of the season.
Nevertheless, despite the impressive numbers and competition, Enrique's message is clear. He believes that Ruiz's trophy haul, which includes the greatest team successes, deserves the crown in the form of the Ballon d'Or. It remains to be seen whether voters around the world will share the Spanish tactician's opinion.
