Not Rodri or Lamine Yamal: this is Spain’s most–played star under De la Fuente

From the moment Luis de la Fuente took charge of Spain, one thing has been clear: no one is guaranteed a place. The national team has seen a steady flow of players coming in and out, with no door ever fully closed to those eligible. Even so, regular names such as Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Unai Simón have featured consistently. Yet none of them have matched the number of appearances made by Fabián Ruiz.

Fabián: Spain’s second-highest scorer

The former Real Betis player has been the most frequently used footballer since Luis de la Fuente’s arrival – whether in the starting lineup or off the bench. Beyond that, the Los Palacios native also leads the squad in total minutes played. Across three seasons, he has featured in 20 games, more than any other player in that span. Close behind him are Álvaro Morata, captain during this period, and Mikel Oyarzabal, both with 19 appearances.

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has also delivered strong performances under the coach from La Rioja. In terms of scoring, Fabián Ruiz has netted five goals in 20 games, a tally only surpassed by Mikel Oyarzabal with nine. Those goals, along with three assists, underline his importance as one of the cornerstones of the national team.

Knee concerns for Fabián

However, the start of the year has been challenging due to a knee injury. With the World Cup approaching, the midfielder’s last appearance came on January 16. Since then, he has missed eight games for his club, raising concern for his manager, Luis Enrique, who said: “It is a real problem for us to have important players like Fabián out for so long.”

Even so, the Spanish international continues his recovery and is edging closer to a return. With more than two months remaining before the final squad for the World Cup is announced, Luis de la Fuente could still have one of his most trusted players available for the tournament.

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