Ruiz debuted with the Guatemalan National Team on November 11, 1998 in a friendly match against Mexico. He netted his first goal against El Salvador on March 19, 1999 and has since become his country's all-time leading scorer with 42 goals in 87 caps. In 2001, Ruiz led Guatemala to a first place finish in the UNCAF Nations Cup after settling for second place the previous three years.
After a two-year hiatus with the National Team, Ruiz will return to the group led by Manager Ever Hugo Almeida at the conclusion of his MLS match with the Union in Toronto. Los Chapines, who share Group B with Honduras, Jamaica and Grenada, will open up their Gold Cup trip against Honduras on June 6 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., followed by their matches versus Jamaica and Grenada in Miami on June 10 and at the Red Bull Arena of Harrison, NJ., on June 13, respectively.
(Copyright 2011 Philadelphia Union. Reprinted by permission)