This Saturday, Spain defeated Georgia 4–0 on Matchday 5 of Group E in the European qualifiers and moved within one step of securing their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026. There, Fabian Ruiz surpassed <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/zinedine-zidane">Zinedine Zidane</a> and reached an impressive milestone that not even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo managed to achieve.



With the win over Georgia, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/fabian-ruiz/">Ruiz</a> reached 40 consecutive matches with the Spain national team without suffering a defeat. That streak began with his international debut in 2019 and has continued to this day. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder moved past Zidane, who with France went 39 matches without losing between 1997 and 2001.



Fabian Ruiz now sits in third place in the all-time ranking. Above him are only two retired players: Spain’s Carlos Marchena (57 matches from 2003 to 2010) and Brazil’s Mane Garrincha (49 matches from 1955 to 1966).



The Spanish player’s impressive numbers speak to his massive impact on the team, serving as a key piece for head coach Luis De la Fuente. But they also show a significant element of luck. Between 2019 and the present, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/spain/">Spain</a> have lost more than one match, but he was not on the field for any of them.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20251115_WST_604164_Zinedine-Zidane-Real-Madrid-1200x675_52b53c8c.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Zinedine Zidane smiling." class="wp-image-545307" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Zinedine Zidane went 39 matches without a loss with France.</figcaption></figure>



Spain’s most recent loss came in a friendly against Colombia in 2024, and that day Ruiz was a substitute and did not come on. The same thing happened in 2023, in a Euro qualifier against Scotland. Going further back is the FIFA World Cup 2022, in which Spain lost a match against Japan. However, Ruiz was not called up for that tournament. Situations like these go back several years and help explain Fabian’s remarkable streak.


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<h2>How does Cristiano Ronaldo compare to Ruiz?</h2>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> is the all-time leading scorer in international soccer, with 143 goals in 226 matches for Portugal since his debut in 2003. However, he has never come close to a streak like the one Fabian Ruiz is posting with Spain.



Ronaldo’s longest unbeaten run with Portugal came between March 2005 and July 2006. During that stretch, the forward went 17 consecutive matches without defeat at the international level, including friendlies, European qualifiers, and four matches at the FIFA World Cup 2006. However, that streak ended with a 1–0 loss to France in the semifinals of that tournament.



<h2>How many matches did Messi go unbeaten with Argentina?</h2>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, shows stronger numbers with Argentina. Since his debut in 2005, the forward has put together multiple significant unbeaten streaks with his national team. Two of them stand out in particular.


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The first stretched to 27 matches, from November 2011 to July 2014. This included friendlies, South American qualifiers, and nearly the entire World Cup 2014. The streak broke at the worst possible moment, with the 1–0 loss to Germany in the final in Rio de Janeiro.



Years later, however, Messi reached 30 consecutive matches without defeat with Argentina. That streak began in July 2019, after losing the Copa America semifinals against Brazil. For more than three years, Lionel Scaloni’s team played friendlies, qualifiers, Copa America 2021, and the Finalissima 2022 without losing a single match.



The loss came, just like the previous time, at the World Cup. It happened in the memorable opener at Qatar 2022, when Argentina unexpectedly fell 2–1 to Arabia Saudita. Fortunately for Messi, they recovered afterward and went on a triumphant run all the way to the unforgettable final win against France.

Spain star Fabian Ruiz surpasses Zidane with international record not even Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo reached

Spain star Fabian Ruiz surpasses Zidane with international record not even Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo reached - World Soccer Talk

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Spain started their <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-european-championship-tv-schedule/">Euro 2024</a> run with a commanding 3-0 victory against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/croatia-national-team-tv-schedule/">Croatia</a> on Saturday, with Fabian Ruiz playing a starring role.



While all tournament games are crucial, the matchup was immense considering how competitive Group B is. Along with the two continental heavyweights, reigning European champions <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/italy-national-team-tv-schedule/">Italy</a> is in the group as well. Losing this fixture would potentially put either side behind the eight ball.



Also highlighting the matchup was Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old phenom became the youngest player to ever feature at the Euros. 



Not only did the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> star break the record, but he did it by some margin. The previous record was held by former 17-year-old <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/poland-national-team-tv-schedule/">Poland</a> midfielder Kacper Kozlowski. 



Croatian star Luka Modric had just completed his fourth senior season at Dinamo Zagreb when <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2ee2vq302no" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yamal</a> was born.



<h2>Spain scores trio of goals before halftime break</h2>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/spain-national-team-tv-schedule/">Spain</a>, perhaps unsurprisingly, took control of the ball throughout the early stages of the match. Yamal was also used as a key outlet for his teammates going forward. The teen first found himself in a quality area inside the seventh minute. He then picked out Alvaro Morata near the edge of the Croatian box. The forward, however, sent a relatively tame effort towards Dominik Livakovic.



Spain finally took advantage of their chances by grabbing the lead in the 29th minute with a goal from Morata. Fabian Ruiz created the strike with a glorious ball that cut through the Croatian defense. The striker latched on to the clever pass, ran towards goal, and slotted a shot beyond Livakovic’s outstretched foot.



Ruiz then doubled his team’s lead just three minutes later. The creator of the first goal collected possession just outside of Croatia’s box, dribbled by a defender, and placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. The goal was the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> midfielder’s third ever score for his national team. Ruiz also recently netted a goal in Spain’s most recent friendly fixture.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="800" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240615_WST_511703_imago1046371314h-1200x800_570730d5.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=800" alt="" class="wp-image-511758" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/imago1046371314h-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/imago1046371314h-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/imago1046371314h-768x512.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/imago1046371314h-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/imago1046371314h-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Lamine Yamal looked perfectly at home in tournament football</figcaption></figure>



Spain went on to grab their third goal of the opening period just moments from the halftime break. The aforementioned Yamal started the play by sending a beautiful cross into the box from a corner routine. 



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>‘s Dani Carvajal somehow found himself all alone just a few yards from goal. The defender was able to stretch out a leg and get enough contact on the ball to put it beyond Livakovic.



<h2>Croatia fails to convert penalty kick late in matchup</h2>



Both sides had great opportunities to score early in the second half. Livakovic made an incredible save to deny a goal from Yamal in the 52nd minute.



The teen looked certain to score, but the Croatian keeper got down fast to make the block. Marc Cucurella then seemingly saved a goal at the other end just three minutes later. As a scramble ensued inside Spain’s box, the full back bravely stepped in front of a dangerous shot to keep the three-goal lead.



Croatia was given a late lifeline in the match thanks to a rare mistake by Simon. The Spanish goalkeeper was fantastic throughout the game, but a lapse in judgement gave his opponents a clear chance at a goal. 



Midfielder Rodri then brought down a player inside the box to give Croatia a penalty kick. 



Simon, however, redeemed himself by saving the spot kick, only for the rebound to fall to Perisic who put a cross into the box, which was converted by Bruno Petkovic. 



However, Perisic was deemed to have encroached into the penalty area and the goal was ruled out and Spain were given a free-kick.



The only real cause for concern for Spain on the day occurred with potential injury issues. Morata and Rodri were both forced off of the pitch seemingly due to a slight problems. The duo, however, was able to walk off of the pitch without noticeable limps. Both players were also seen smiling after the victory.



Spain will next try to take the positive momentum into a massive matchup with Italy. Croatia, on the other hand, is set to face <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/albania-national-team-tv-schedule/">Albania</a> next in essentially a must-win game for Modric’s team.



Photo credits: IMAGO / Matthias Koch : IMAGO / Jan Huebner

Fabian Ruiz propels Spain in domination of Croatia

Spain started Euro 2024 with a big victory against Croatia on Saturday thanks to a goal and assist by Fabian Ruiz

Fabian Ruiz propels Spain in domination of Croatia - World Soccer Talk

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Spain star Fabian Ruiz surpasses Zidane with international record not even Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo reached

UEFA Euro 2024

Fabian Ruiz propels Spain in domination of Croatia