Winning the World Cup brings many rewards for players… but receiving your own body weight in tomatoes is surely one of the more unusual.<\/p>\n
That is what Spain midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Gavi were presented with when they returned to their hometown after being part of the Spain squad that triumphed in North America.<\/p>\n
The pair come from Los Palacios y Villafranca – a town to the south of Seville that has a population lower than 40,000 – and returned there on Wednesday for an official reception at the town hall.<\/p>\n
Paris St-Germain’s Ruiz, who started the final against Argentina, and Barcelona’s Gavi wore their gold medals as they were greeted by Los Palacios y Villafranca officials and a large crowd.<\/p>\n
As part of the occasion to honour their achievement, they both stepped on to weighing scales to establish the quantity of tomatoes they would each be given. <\/p>\n
Ruiz is to receive 85kg and Gavi 68.5kg in a tradition that local officials say “has become a hallmark of the municipality for honouring its great athletes”.<\/p>\n
Former Spain winger Jesus Navas also attended as he was the first player from Los Palacios y Villafranca to win the World Cup, when he did so in 2010.<\/p>\n
Navas, the former Manchester City forward, and Ruiz also received the gift of tomatoes after Spain won Euro 2024.<\/p>\n
The town’s sports pavilion is named after Navas and Ruiz and Gavi will now have football fields renamed after them as a tribute to their achievements. <\/p>\n