Winning the World Cup delivers plenty of perks — but being gifted your own body weight in tomatoes has to be one of the most unusual.
That’s the prize Spain midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Gavi received on returning to their hometown after helping Spain triumph in North America.
The pair are from Los Palacios y Villafranca, a town south of Seville with fewer than 40,000 residents, and were welcomed on Wednesday at an official town hall reception.
Paris St-Germain’s Ruiz, who started the final against Argentina, and Barcelona’s Gavi arrived wearing their gold medals, greeted by local officials and a large crowd.
As part of the celebration, both stepped onto scales to determine the exact amount of tomatoes they would be awarded.
Ruiz will receive 85 kg and Gavi 68.5 kg — a tradition that local authorities say “has become a hallmark of the municipality for honouring its great athletes.”
Former Spain winger Jesus Navas was also present; he was the first player from Los Palacios y Villafranca to win the World Cup, doing so in 2010.
Navas, the former Manchester City forward, and Ruiz were similarly gifted tomatoes after Spain won Euro 2024.
The town’s sports pavilion already bears Navas’s name, and football pitches will now be renamed after Ruiz and Gavi as a tribute to their achievements.
“In addition, the town hall will promote the construction of a monument dedicated to the three champions from Los Palacios,” a council statement said.
“In this way, the city council aims to pay lasting tribute to three athletes who embody the pride of the town and who, through their sporting and personal journeys, have become role models for generations of children and young people.”