World Cup winners Ruiz, Gavi honoured with 150kg of tomatoes

Spain's midfielders Fabián Ruiz and Gavi have been celebrated by their hometown, Los Palacios y Villafranca, for their contributions to the nation's victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The duo received a distinctive gift of tomatoes equivalent to their body weights.

The players returned to their town, situated south of Seville and home to fewer than 40,000 residents, for an official reception at the town hall on Wednesday.

As reported by BBC Sports on Thursday, Ruiz, who is currently with Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona's Gavi arrived adorned with their World Cup gold medals, greeted by local officials and a large gathering of fans.

During the ceremony, both athletes stepped onto weighing scales to ascertain the amount of tomatoes they would be awarded, adhering to a local custom of honoring exceptional athletes from the area.

Ruiz, weighing 85kg, will receive 85kg of tomatoes, while Gavi will be given 68.5kg based on his weight.

Local officials remarked that this gesture has become a tradition and serves as “a hallmark of the municipality for honoring its great athletes.”

Former Spain winger Jesús Navas, also from Los Palacios y Villafranca and the first player from the town to win the World Cup in 2010, was present at the event.

Navas and Ruiz had previously been honored with the same tomato tribute following Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.

The town council announced additional honors for the football stars, stating that football fields would be renamed in honor of Ruiz and Gavi, while the existing sports pavilion named after Navas would continue to pay tribute to the former Manchester City player.

The council also disclosed plans to erect a monument dedicated to the three champions from Los Palacios y Villafranca.

In a statement, the council emphasized that the tribute aims to acknowledge the players' achievements and their role as inspirations for future generations.
The municipality described Ruiz, Gavi and Navas as sporting figures who represent the pride of the town through their performances and personal journeys.