Suddenly he's the boss: how 29 centimetres changed his career
The reason Fabián Ruiz didn't become the next small, bustling Messi and has so far flown under the radar was due to a growth spurt at the age of 14. As 'L'Equipe' reports, the current PSG star from Andalusia, who wants to be called Fabián, grew by 29 centimeters in just a few months. For comparison: If Messi had grown by 29 centimeters in his youth, he would be 1.99 meters tall today and could look Per Mertesacker in the eye.
Advertisement
So, a big leap that Fabián had to cope with, which also affected his football game. However, he wouldn't be successful with it until years later. The really big titles didn't come until the summer of 2024. After the European Championship title with Spain, he was selected by UEFA for the tournament's top eleven.
Thus, he increasingly came into the focus of media coverage. Before the tournament in Germany, he rather flew under the radar. When he moved from Napoli to the French capital in 2022, he was still hoping for a place in the Spanish national team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. "I didn't take him to the World Cup and that was a mistake," admitted current PSG coach Luis Enrique in February 2025. Enrique now describes Fabián as one of the best players he has in midfield.
The fans probably didn't expect this development at the beginning of his time at PSG. In his first two seasons, Fabián scored five and four points respectively in Ligue 1. This season it was nine, even though scoring and assisting are not his main tasks. Because with Dembélé, Doué, Kvaratskhelia and Co., the Parisians have several creative minds who can stir up the opposing defense. Vitinha, on the other hand, takes on the defensive part in PSG's midfield, often dropping back so that his teammates can get involved offensively.
Advertisement
But what has changed under Enrique that Fabián is suddenly the boss in PSG's midfield at the age of 29? With a tactical trick, his coach brought out the strengths of the midfield star even more. He was moved from the six (a more defensive position) to the eight (more offensive).
On the left side, the box-to-box player can and is able to get more involved in the offensive game with his advances. His good coordination with Vitinha and João Neves allows PSG to control the pace. In the build-up, the Spaniard can hold the ball for a long time and pass it accurately.
Fabián is adaptable, which has been made even clearer by the position change. He also demonstrated this adaptability when he was 14 years old and had to adjust to his new body size.
He has learned to develop a particularly good eye for open spaces, which he now opens up and thus binds opposing players to himself. "Playing with Fabián is easy. He sees everything before everyone else and always puts me in a good position. You can tell that he has reached a new dimension this season," his teammate Vitinha noted in an interview with 'Canal+' in March.
Advertisement
His coach also raved about his game overview in April. "Fabián is a player who understands the game better than many others. He knows when to accelerate, when to calm the game down – he gets the others playing. A quiet, but indispensable leader," Enrique explained.
Exactly what Messi is to this day. A quiet boss in the attack, who binds the opponents to himself and leads the team on the field without shouting and being loud. Fabián has managed to adopt a part of Messi. PSG thus has a Messi again, just the Messi from Los Palacios, who is 1.89 meters tall.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
📸 ANGELA WEISS - AFP or licensors
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
The Club World Cup entertainment sideshow: Doja Cat, Robbie Williams and a foretaste of 2026
Colombian singer J Balvin sat on the edge of what felt like the world's tallest stage as his song Mi Gente blared through the speakers for 81,118 spectators at the MetLife Stadium. FIFA's first-ever halftime show was officially underway, in all its chaotic and unapologetic glory. The grand finale of the Club World Cup on Sunday — the culmination of a month-long affair — saw Chelsea upend Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in a thrashing that, with head coach Enzo Maresca saying after the match that it was over 'in the first 10 minutes.' The team that felt unbeatable all year long was strategically undone. Advertisement Despite all that happened on the pitch, including Joao Neves' hair pull or Luis Enrique's emotional outburst, one of the main takeaways from the final was the surrounding fanfare: the military flyover, the pre-game celebration and, yes, the president of the United States crashing Chelsea's trophy lift. It's safe to assume most of what we saw at MetLife will be similar to what FIFA, the sport's global governing body, has in store for next year, when the 2026 World Cup finally kicks off across the U.S., Mexico and Canada after nearly a decade of anticipation. That will include a halftime show for the first time ever at the World Cup. As perhaps a preview for what to expect, the Club World Cup halftime show, which co-starred J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and surprise guests Coldplay with Emmanuel Kelly, lasted just under 11 minutes. On television, it was an attractive ensemble of performers with the New York City skyline as a backdrop, juxtaposed with the American Dream mega mall and its Ferris wheel. In person, however, the show wasn't so polished. The stage, as impressive a feat as it was to create, felt too far away. From across the stadium, it was hard to see with the naked eye that Coldplay was on stage with Kelly. It was also hard to ignore the sprinklers dousing the pitch before the second half, employees scrambling to do some quick maintenance, and the steady stream of fans leaving their seats for the concourse mid-performance. Like a lot of the Club World Cup, the halftime show felt made for TV rather than those in the stadium. That's not to say the halftime show was not entertaining. It was. It also seems to have accomplished exactly what FIFA intended: it gave viewers and fans in the stadium entertainment, albeit brief, as FIFA took a page from the NFL and American sports' entertainment playbook. FIFA even announced that Panini America, a collectibles company and one of FIFA's longstanding sponsors, was a late 'partner' for the halftime show just one and a half hours before kickoff. While it's a far cry from the profitability and success of the NFL's Super Bowl halftime show, for FIFA, it seems a small step toward that goal. Advertisement The halftime show was only part of the entertainment FIFA delivered at the final, in its attempts to assimilate with American professional sports culture. The match was prefaced with a 20-minute intro: a performance of FIFA's official anthem Desire by Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini; American announcer Michael Buffer yelling his iconic line 'Let's get ready to rumble!'; and a tribute to America that included the singing of the national anthem, pyrotechnics and a military flyover. There was also a giant, inflatable replica of the Club World Cup trophy pushed around the pitch. Expect things to be even more over-the-top next year at the World Cup. At Sunday's final, On Location, the official hospitality provider of the 2026 World Cup, gave journalists a sample of the kind of extra experiences they will offer fans next year. The preview started with a tour of the pitch then a chance to sit and take photos from PSG's bench a few hours before the team would be there themselves. On Location president Paul Caine said experiences like these are just an example of what they and FIFA have planned for fans in 2026. 'We're not just selling tickets. We're selling experiences,' Caine said. Heimo Schirgi, COO for FIFA World Cup 26, said, 'We're transforming from a sports governing body into an entertainment company, and also an experiential company.' On Monday, On Location released hospitality packages for all 16 stadiums in the 2026 World Cup, with prices for single-match options starting at $1,350 per person. An 18-person suite, like the one On Location staged at the Club World Cup final, had a balcony area that directly faced the center of the pitch, with a prime view of the halftime show. The halftime show at the Club World Cup was hosted in the rafters rather than the pitch, which eliminated the need to set up and dismantle a stage on the pitch, as is generally done during Super Bowls. Though even with the show happening in the rafters, the halftime still lasted over 20 minutes. FIFA rules cap halftime at 15 minutes. Despite the new experiences for soccer fans, the halftime show did bring to mind a previous FIFA event, the 2023 Women's World Cup in Sydney, where organizers blasted Coldplay's Sky Full of Stars during halftimes. As the music played, fans shone their cellphone lights and there would be light shows inside the venues that went with the music. Advertisement On Sunday, the voices of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, who curated the halftime show, and Kelly echoed through MetLife Stadium in a similar way – but instead of a light show, fans had daytime fireworks and a stage that changed colors to the music. In FIFA's own way, it felt like a slice of its authentic identity hidden between everything else it tried to do.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Four of the best teams from Euro 2025 so far
Four of the best teams from Euro 2025 so far The group stage of Euro 2025 is over and we now at last have our final eight teams who will be facing off in the knock-out round. With the competition taking a brief break, Playmakerstats took the opportunity to look at the numbers of some of the best performing teams on display in Switzerland. Advertisement Spanish dominance The world champions came into this tournament as favourites and they've demonstrated why by winning all three of their group games, scoring 14 goals in the process. In total, the Spanish have had 75 shots, 14 more than anyone else, of which 40 of those were from inside the penalty area. Much of Spain's danger is their control of games with an average of 68.3% possession in total (way ahead of anyone else) and the best passing accuracy so far with 89.1%. So far, Spain have the player with the most goals in the tournament (Ester González, four) and most assists (Alexia Putellas, also four) without having to rely much on the best player in the world, Aitana Bonmatí. Spain are looking imperious. Advertisement English improvement After a false start that saw the Lionesses lose to France while looking way off the pace, they have since shown some of their best stuff – in particular during the big win over the Netherlands. Two players have been key to that: Alessia Russo and Ella Toone. The two best friends have always linked up well on the pitch for club (back when Russo was at Manchester United) and for country. Toone in particular didn't start against France but England have looked much more threatening with her on the pitch. Indeed, the 25-year-old has made five most goal-creating actions in the tournament so far – the same number as Putellas with only Clara Matéo managing more. Advertisement Both Russo and Toone are on a total of four direct goal contributions (only Putellas has more) – Toone with two goals and two assists while Russo has one goal and three assists. German wing play Bayern Munich's Klara Bühl was already regarded as one of the best wingers in the women's game before Euro 2025 and her stock is only rising after the group stages. The 24-year-old has some remarkable numbers from the first three games having made 38 crosses in total – 18 more than anyone else. Her speed and direct running has been crucial to Germany's attacking play with Bühl having the most progressive carries (37), carries into the penalty area (20), and successful take-ons (17) so far. Advertisement The only surprise is that despite having the second-highest expected assists (1.8xA), Bühl is yet to make an assist at the tournament – that could change soon. Swedish solidity We've focused on attacking numbers and now it's time to highlight good defending. Sweden have conceded just one goal in the group stage while winning all of their games. Goalkeeper Jennifer Falk is the only shot-stopper to keep more than one clean sheet and not because she's had fewer shots to face. Falk has an impressive save percentage of 88.9%, far more than anyone else with Norway's Cecilie Fiskerstran the next closest (77.8%). Advertisement Of course, Sweden have plenty of talent in the top third of the pitch. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has the most crosses into the penalty area (six) and the second most number of key passes (13) behind only Putellas. Stina Blackstenius (17 shots total, the most), Filippa Angeldahl (36 progressive passes, the most), and Kosovare Asllani (three assists, second most) explain why Sweden's total goal difference of +7 is the third highest in the tournament. The Swedes are definitely in contention for the title but they have the holders England to face next...
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Ben Healy takes Tour de France yellow jersey to give Ireland another cycling hero
LE MONT-DORE, France (AP) — Ireland has a new cycling hero. Ben Healy became the fourth Irish rider to earn the Tour de France's yellow jersey on Monday with a gritty ride in the fabled race's first mountainous stage. Healy led for much of the tough 165.3-kilometer route through the Massif Central — France's south-central highland region — but had to be content with third place after Giro d'Italia winner Simon Yates broke on the final ascent to take the stage victory. But Healy's push — he was nominated the most combative rider of the day on France's national day — was enough to take a 29-second lead over Tadej Pogačar in the general classification and take the yellow jersey from the three-time Tour champion. 'It's a fairy tale, you know,' said Healy, who claimed his first stage victory at the Tour on Thursday. 'If you'd told me before this Tour, I think I wouldn't have believed it. So a stage win and yellow jersey is just incredible and beyond belief, really.' Healy is preceded by fellow Irish riders Shay Elliot, who won a stage in 1963, Sean Kelly, who led after Stage 9 in 1983, and Stephen Roche, who won the Tour in 1987. 'It's some pretty crazy footsteps to follow, isn't it, and I'm just super proud to represent Ireland and wear the yellow jersey for them and hopefully I can do it some justice,' said Healy, who was born in England and qualifies for Ireland through his father's parents from Cork and Waterford. Healy was 3 minutes, 55 seconds behind Pogačar when he started Stage 10, but he found himself in a large breakaway from the favorites in the peloton, and then forced the initiative over seven category two climbs. Supported by UAE Team Emirates colleagues, Pogačar fought back late. Healy watched as the defending champion finished the stage on the ascent of Puy de Sancy — the region's highest peak — 4:51 behind stage winner Yates. Healy was only nine seconds behind. 'UAE surprisingly let a really big break go up the road,' he said. 'We had four guys in there and, yeah, I've got to really say a massive thank you to (EF Education-Easypost teammates) Harry Sweeney and Alex Baudin today, you know, they were just incredible and I'm just so glad I was able to finish.' Healy was not considered among the race favorites — two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard was expected to provide Pogačar with his sternest challenge. But wearing the yellow jersey means Healy will have to be more focused on the general classification than before. 'It would be rude not to be,' he said. 'I've got to respect the jersey and I'm in quite a nice position now, I guess, to try and hold on for as long as possible.' ___ AP sports:
