Spanish World Cup winners Fabián Ruiz and Gavi were given a truly unique reward upon their return to their hometown of Los Palacios y Villafranca this week: their own body weight in tomatoes. The unusual but cherished tradition saw the two midfielders, fresh from their triumph in North America, greeted by local officials and a large crowd in the town south of Seville, which has a population under 40,000.
Paris St-Germain's Ruiz, who started the final match, and Barcelona's Gavi proudly displayed their gold medals during an official reception at the town hall. As part of the ceremony honouring their significant achievement, both players stepped onto weighing scales to determine the exact quantity of tomatoes they would each receive. Ruiz is set to collect 85kg of the local produce, while Gavi will be given 68.5kg, reflecting their respective weights.
Local officials explained that this tradition has become a distinctive way for the municipality to celebrate its accomplished athletes. It's not the first time such a gift has been bestowed; former Spain winger Jesús Navas, who also hails from Los Palacios y Villafranca and was the first player from the town to win the World Cup in 2010, was present at the event. Navas, a former Manchester City forward, and Ruiz also received tomatoes after Spain's Euro 2024 victory.
Beyond the agricultural accolades, the town is further cementing the players' legacies. The local sports pavilion is already named after Navas, and now football fields will be renamed in honour of Ruiz and Gavi. Furthermore, the town council has announced plans to promote the construction of a monument dedicated to all three World Cup champions from Los Palacios y Villafranca.
A statement from the town council highlighted the significance of these tributes, stating: "In this way, the city council wants to pay permanent tribute to three athletes who represent the pride of an entire town and who, with their sporting and human trajectory, have become role models for several generations of children and young people." This gesture underscores the deep connection between the players and their roots, celebrating their global success with a distinctly local flavour.