SerpApi.Org
As if replica FIFA World Cup trophies, medals, and custom $12,000 championship rings weren’t enough of a reward for winning soccer’s biggest title, two Spanish stars have been gifted another, more nutritious, prize.
Upon their heroic returns to their hometown of Los Palacios y Villafranca in Andalusia, both Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabián Ruiz and Barcelona’s Gavi were publicly weighed at the town hall, and subsequently awarded with their bodyweight in tomatoes - a product the region is renowned for.
For 30-year-old Ruiz, this meant 84 kilograms (185 pounds) of fruit, whilst 21-year-old Gavi will take home 68 kilograms (150 pounds), according to ESPN.
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Speaking at the event, which later saw a crowd of locals flock outside the town hall to congratulate the duo who looked on from a balcony, Ruiz said, via online translation, “There are moments one cherishes forever, and returning home after winning a World Cup is one of them.
“It will always be a source of pride to carry the name Palacios Villafranca to every corner of the globe. Thank you for making me feel so loved in the best town in the world. Your affection means more than any title.”
As for Gavi - who was pushed to the turf by Argentina's Leandro Paredes after the Final - he said the occasion marked “a day to remember,” adding, “Becoming a world champion alongside a fellow native of Los Palacios and a friend like Fabián is one of the greatest things imaginable. This World Cup goes out to all the people of Los Palacios, and I hope they are proud of all of us.”
This isn’t the first time the approximately 35,000 inhabitants of Los Palacios y Villafranca have had the opportunity to celebrate soccer success with the dishing out of crates of local produce.
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The tradition kick-started back in 2010 when Spain won its first World Cup title via another 1-0 extra-time win, this time over the Netherlands in South Africa. The inaugural local to be honored with a crate of tomatoes was then Sevilla star Jesús Navas.
The former Manchester City winger returned for more following Spain’s UEFA European Championship wins in 2012 and 2024 - the latter of which also saw Ruiz head to his hometown’s town hall. Gavi had to wait until 2026 for his first batch of fruit.
For Ruiz, this capped off a remarkable summer in North America, during which he appeared in every game under Luis de la Fuente, starting their final three games alongside Golden Ball winner Rodri at the heart of Spain’s midfield. This came shortly after he claimed his second consecutive Champions League crown with PSG courtesy of a penalty shootout win against Premier League champions Arsenal.
Gavi, meanwhile, had a quieter summer following his third La Liga title-winning campaign, starting Spain’s tournament-opening draw with Cape Verde and coming off the bench in the Round of 32 against Austria for his lone appearances in what was his second World Cup.
