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Spain midfielder Fabián Ruiz has temporarily stepped away from international duty to travel to Paris for the birth of his first child, putting family ahead of football during the current UEFA Nations League campaign.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder left Spain’s training camp in Oviedo on Saturday after receiving permission to be with his family for the arrival of his first baby.
Ruiz’s departure means he will miss Spain’s Nations League meeting with the Czech Republic at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium, leaving head coach Luis de la Fuente without one of the midfielders who started the team’s opening two matches of the international window.
The Spanish Football Federation confirmed that Ruiz had left the camp to attend the birth but did not provide a definite timeline for his return.
That leaves his availability for Spain’s next match against Croatia on Tuesday uncertain.
For Ruiz, however, the situation is about much more than football.
The 30-year-old midfielder is preparing to experience fatherhood for the first time, making the journey to Paris one of the most significant trips of his life away from the football pitch.
Ruiz had been an important figure in Spain’s midfield at the beginning of the international break. He started in the team’s 3-2 victory over England before also featuring from the beginning in their impressive 4-1 win against Croatia.
Those results gave Spain a strong start to their Nations League campaign and highlighted the importance of Ruiz’s experience and composure in midfield.
His absence against the Czech Republic will therefore require De la Fuente to make another adjustment to his starting lineup.
Spain have already had to deal with several unavailable players during the current international window. Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Alejandro Grimaldo and Eric García have also been unavailable, while Pedro Porro was ruled out through injury before joining the squad.
Despite those challenges, Spain head into the Czech Republic fixture with confidence after collecting victories in their opening two matches.
The team will now have to continue without Ruiz, at least for the weekend fixture.
The midfielder’s departure also comes at a particularly busy stage of the Nations League schedule. Following the meeting with the Czech Republic, Spain are due to travel to Split to face Croatia again on Tuesday.
That schedule could give Ruiz an opportunity to return to the squad after the birth of his child, although the RFEF has not confirmed whether he will be available for the Croatia fixture.
For now, the Spanish midfielder’s attention is firmly away from football.
After spending years competing at the highest level, Ruiz has reached a moment that cannot be measured by goals, assists or trophies. He is preparing to welcome his first child and be present for a milestone that will remain with him long after the current Nations League campaign has ended.
His decision also highlights the human side of international football. Players may spend much of their careers travelling, training and competing under enormous pressure, but there are moments when the importance of family naturally takes priority.
Ruiz had been expected to play an important role for Spain during this international window, but his absence against the Czech Republic is now secondary to what is happening in Paris.
The midfielder will therefore watch from a distance as his teammates attempt to maintain their winning start, while he waits to welcome his first child.
Spain’s coaching staff must now focus on finding a replacement for Ruiz in midfield, but the player himself has a very different priority.
For the PSG star, the next big moment of this international break will not happen on a football pitch.
It will be the arrival of his first child.
Whether Ruiz makes it back in time for Tuesday’s meeting with Croatia remains to be seen. Until then, Spain must continue their Nations League campaign without him, while Ruiz begins what could be the most memorable chapter of his life away from football.
