Fabián Ruiz leads the way – Players with longest unbeaten runs since making their international debut

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Italy’s Nicolò Barella 4th 

©TM/IMAGO

For many players, putting on the shirt of their national team is one of the most pride-packed feelings of their career. Representing their nation with the entire fanbase of a country watching must be an exhilarating feeling. Being successful for your international side takes it to a new level. There aren’t many prizes available for players with their nations, so winning a major tournament is often held in the highest regard. For some stars, the national team shirt can weigh heavy, and they are unable to replicate their club form on an international level. For others, it brings out their best.

Euro 2024 champions Spain made it to the Nations League semi-finals this week after drawing 2-2 twice with Netherlands before beating the Dutch on penalties. And in doing that, one of the nation’s recent unsung heroes broke an impressive record. Midfielder Fabián Ruiz, who plays his club football with PSG, has now made 37 caps for Spain, and, incredibly, hasn’t lost a single game. He played in six of Spain’s seven games at the recent Euros. When we scan back across the archives, it means that no player has now played more international caps since making their debut without losing this century. But who are the other stars who have gone on crazy unbeaten streaks with their nations since 2000? Let’s find out.

Leading the way is Ruiz. He made his Spain debut against the Faroe Islands in 2019 and six years later still hasn’t tasted defeat with the national side. In second place is Danish player Jens Stryger Larsen, who went 36 caps without defeat between 2016 and 2021, before Finland ended that run. Third position goes to Belgium utility man Leander Dendoncker, who managed 32 caps for his nation without losing between 2015-2023. In fourth place is Italian midfielder Nicolò Barella, who managed 31 caps without defeat between 2018-2021, with Italy winning Euro 2020 in that time-frame.

Fifth place goes to Algerian Djamel Eddine Benlamri, who went 29 caps without losing a game between 2018-2022, with his nation winning AFCON during that period. Argentine winger Nico González takes sixth position, having managed 28 caps without defeat between 2019-2023. Former Spain centre-back Raúl Albiol is seventh, with 27 caps unbeaten from 2007-2011. Iranian Hadi Aghili and South Korean Keun-ho Lee also went 27 international games without defeat between 2006-2009 and 2007-2009 respectively. Completing the top 10 is Argentina Exequiel Palacios who also managed 27 caps without losing between 2018-2023.