PSG Star Hailed as ‘Most Underrated Player of All Time’ After Barcelona Win

Fabian Ruiz has earned glowing praise after helping Paris Saint-Germain defeat Barcelona 4-2 in the UEFA Champions League. Former England international Joe Cole described the Spanish midfielder as potentially the “most underrated player of all time”, highlighting his trophy-winning record and importance to Luis Enrique’s side.

Joe Cole’s Praise Puts Fabian Ruiz in the Spotlight

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz has received a remarkable endorsement from former England international Joe Cole following the French club’s 4-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona.

Speaking on TNT Sports after Tuesday’s encounter at the Parc des Princes, Cole suggested that Ruiz could be the “most underrated player of all time”, pointing to his achievements and the influence he brings to the reigning European champions.

Cole’s assessment centred on a player whose contributions can sometimes receive less attention than the goals, assists and individual brilliance of more prominent attacking stars.

Ruiz scored PSG’s fourth goal to complete an impressive victory, but his importance extends beyond that decisive contribution. His work in midfield, ability to retain possession and understanding of the game have helped make him an important part of Luis Enrique’s system.

Ruiz Helps PSG Overcome Barcelona’s Resistance

PSG had to work hard to secure all three points, with Barcelona twice responding after falling behind in an entertaining contest.

Desire Doué opened the scoring for the hosts before Barcelona’s Xavi Espart brought the visitors level. Lucas Hernández subsequently restored PSG’s advantage, only for Lamine Yamal to equalise again with an outstanding individual effort.

The match appeared finely balanced until Vitinha struck in the 81st minute to put PSG ahead for a third time. Ruiz then delivered the finishing touch, converting Achraf Hakimi’s cross to make it 4-2 and remove any remaining doubt about the outcome.

The late goals reflected PSG’s ability to maintain their attacking threat under pressure. Rather than allowing Barcelona’s equaliser to undermine their momentum, the hosts responded quickly and took control of the closing stages.

Why Cole Believes PSG Are Stronger With Ruiz

Cole’s comments were particularly revealing because they focused on Ruiz’s overall influence rather than his goal alone.

The pundit noted that the midfielder has won major honours, performs his role consistently and makes PSG look a stronger team when he is involved.

That observation highlights an important aspect of modern midfield play. Players are not always judged by spectacular moments; their value can also lie in positioning, decision-making, passing, defensive awareness and the ability to connect different areas of the pitch.

Ruiz offers PSG technical quality and tactical discipline, allowing the team to maintain control while its forwards and attacking midfielders look for opportunities to hurt opponents.

His contribution against Barcelona provided a visible reminder of that value, although Cole’s description remains an emphatic personal assessment rather than an objective measure of Ruiz’s standing among footballers throughout history.

A Trophy-Laden Career Strengthens Ruiz’s Case

Ruiz’s reputation is supported by a growing collection of major honours with PSG and Spain.

Since joining the Parisian club from Napoli in 2022, the midfielder has been part of teams that have won domestic trophies and major European silverware. His achievements with PSG include the Champions League, while he has also played an important role for Spain at international level.

His place in Spain’s midfield alongside Rodri during the country’s World Cup triumph further underlined his ability to perform in elite competition.

Such achievements help explain why Cole was so emphatic in his praise. Ruiz has demonstrated that he can contribute to successful teams in different competitions, even if he does not always command the same headlines as the most celebrated forwards.

The distinction between being underrated and being overlooked is subjective, but Ruiz’s record gives supporters a strong basis for arguing that his influence deserves greater recognition.

PSG’s Midfield Balance Remains a Major Strength

Ruiz’s performance also illustrates the importance of balance in Luis Enrique’s team.

PSG possess players capable of producing individual moments of brilliance, but sustained success in Europe requires more than attacking talent. The team must also control possession, respond to changes in momentum and maintain its structure when opponents threaten.

Ruiz’s composure and understanding of space help provide that balance. His ability to contribute without dominating the headlines can make his role less obvious to casual observers, even when it is significant to the team’s overall performance.

The victory over Barcelona was therefore not simply a story about four PSG goals. It was also an illustration of how different players can influence a high-profile match in different ways, from Doué’s opening strike to Vitinha’s late intervention and Ruiz’s decisive finish.

Barcelona Victory Sends Another Message in Europe

The 4-2 result maintained PSG’s perfect start to their Champions League league-phase campaign, giving them three wins from three matches and strengthening their position among the early pace-setters.

Defeating Barcelona was another significant result for the holders, particularly because they had to recover their attacking rhythm after being pegged back twice.

Ruiz’s goal ensured that his performance became part of the post-match conversation, while Cole’s comments added a wider debate about the recognition given to players whose influence is often less conspicuous than that of prolific scorers.

PSG will now turn their attention back to domestic competition, with a league meeting against Lyon approaching. Maintaining their European form while continuing to compete at the top of Ligue 1 will test the squad’s depth and consistency.

For Ruiz, the Barcelona performance offered another opportunity to demonstrate his value. Whether or not he deserves Cole’s extraordinary all-time description is open to debate, but his achievements and contribution to PSG’s latest victory explain why the midfielder is attracting renewed attention.