PSG: Luis Enrique's Ballon d'Or Joke to Fabian Ruiz After His 2026 World Cup Win

After winning the 2026 World Cup with Spain, Fabian Ruiz rejoined Paris Saint-Germain's training on Monday at the Poissy Campus. The 30-year-old midfielder was greeted with a guard of honor from his teammates and received a lighthearted tease from his coach, Luis Enrique.

Just two days before kicking off their season in the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa on Wednesday, PSG is finally at full strength. Following France's fourth-place finish in the 2026 World Cup, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Lucas Hernandez have all returned to the Poissy Campus. New signings Maghnes Akliouche (from Monaco) and Lucas Digne (from Aston Villa) have also joined. Achraf Hakimi, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals with Morocco, is also back.

However, the spotlight was primarily on Fabian Ruiz. Having triumphed in the 2026 World Cup in America, the Spanish midfielder received a warm welcome in the Yvelines. His teammates prepared a joyful guard of honor for him, complete with applause and playful pats on the head. The 30-year-old player also found himself the subject of a joke from Luis Enrique.

One of Football's Most Impressive Records

Often criticized during his initial seasons in Paris, Fabian Ruiz has silenced his detractors and has become a key starter for the Parisian squad since Luis Enrique's arrival. Now an undisputed player at PSG with such an extensive list of achievements, the Spanish midfielder is considered a benchmark in his position. Some even believe he could be a contender for the next Ballon d'Or, following a highly successful 2026 season where he seemingly won it all.

"Fabian won the World Cup, two years ago the Euros, back-to-back Champions Leagues, the Nations League... Ballon d'Or," the PSG coach remarked with a slight smile amidst his squad on Monday during training. As he prepares to begin his fifth season with PSG, Fabian Ruiz, who was signed from Napoli in the summer of 2022 for €22.5 million, now boasts one of the most impressive career records in football history.

It remains to be seen when the new World Cup champion will be ready to return to competitive play. Some patience will likely be required, as Paris faces a packed early season schedule, including the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa, followed by the Trophée des Champions on Sunday in Lens, and a home match against Stade Rennais on August 23rd for the return of Ligue 1.