Marcel Ruiz

Querétaro

A product of the youth Querétaro team, Ruiz would make his senior debut in Liga MX on 21 July 2018 against Atlas, coming in at the 86th minute for Erbín Trejo, finishing the game in a 0–0 tie. On 22 August 2018, he would score his first goal for the team, winning the game against Club Universidad Nacional 1–0, becoming the youngest scorer of the season at the age of 17. On 31 August 2018, he contributed two assists for Camilo Sanvezzo to score the first two goals against Morelia, winning 4–1.

Tijuana

In July 2020, Ruiz signed with Club Tijuana after the club’s owners, Grupo Caliente, sold Querétaro and transferred several of that team’s players – including the 19-year-old Ruiz – to Tijuana. Ruiz made his debut for Tijuana in the Apertura 2020 and gradually became a regular squad member. Under new Tijuana coach Pablo Guede, Ruiz’s role evolved from the attacking midfielder position he had played at Querétaro to a deeper playmaking role in central midfield. Often paired with fellow ex-Querétaro teammate Jordi Cortizo, he operated as a deep-lying midfielder with responsibilities in building up attacks and distributing the ball, while also contributing defensively. Guede’s more progressive system relied on Ruiz’s vision and press-resistant passing to link play between defense and attack. Ruiz' impact with Tijuana was modest. Over two years with Xolos, he made 50 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing two assists. Notably, he…

Youth

Ruiz was called up by Diego Ramírez to the under-20 team to participate in a training camp ahead of the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and matches against Brazil and Japan. However, he did not make the final tournament squad, and ultimately earned only two caps at the under-20 level. Ruiz was called up by Jaime Lozano to participate with the under-22 team at the 2019 Toulon Tournament, where Mexico finished in third. He was called up by Lozano again to participate at the 2019 Pan American Games, with Mexico winning the third-place match.

Senior

In March 2023, Ruiz was called up by manager Diego Cocca for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League, and made his senior national team debut on 23 March 2023, in a 2–0 victory against Suriname. Prior to that first senior call‑up, a rumor circulated widely in Guatemalan sports outlets during March 2022 suggesting that Ruiz possessed Guatemalan ancestry and was being evaluated by coach Luis Fernando Tena for a potential switch of allegiance. The National Football Federation of Guatemala issued a brief clarification that no eligibility process had been initiated, and Ruiz himself denied the story in multiple interviews, noting that his family background is Mexican with Cuban roots. By March 2026, Ruiz had established himself as a regular under coach Javier Aguirre and had started all three of Mexico’s matches in 2026 before suffering a knee injury, which came amid a wider injury crisis that also included Luis Ángel…

Ruíz has cited Andrés Iniesta and the Barcelona side of Pep Guardiola as formative influences, describing their tiki-taka era of 2008–2012, particularly the 2010–11 team, as "the best team in history." This admiration for Barcelona’s possession-based style has shaped his own preference for composure, short passing, and spatial awareness in midfield. Ruíz primarily plays as a central or defensive midfielder.[33] He contributes defensively and distributes the ball from midfield.[34] His passing accuracy has been reported at over 85 per cent, averaging approximately 50 passes per match.[36] He can also play in more advanced positions.[39]

Ruiz was born in Mérida, Yucatán, to a Mexican father and a Cuban mother. He moved with his family to Querétaro, Querétaro at the age of four. There, he began playing football at a young age and joined a local soccer school named River Plate, inspired by the Argentine club of the same name. His mother, a former gymnast, encouraged his early involvement in sports, enrolling him in karate and tennis before he began focusing more seriously on football. The academy would later become affiliated with Toluca Premier. With Toluca, Ruiz would compete in the Danone Nations Cup and the Liga Premier de México. His early performances eventually led to his recruitment into the youth system of Querétaro.