Reward for World Cup winners - tomatoes matching their weight!
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 23.07.26. | 10:20
Gavi and Fabian Ruiz received a heroes' welcome in their hometown, where an (un)usual gift awaited them
Spain rolled out the red carpet for their world champion footballers with a spectacular parade a few days ago, as millions of fans took to the streets of Madrid to chant the names of their 26 heroes.
However, even such an astonishing reception cannot compare to the welcome the two La Roja midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Gavi received in their hometown, Los Palacios y Villafranca. And not only because there's nothing better than being back among your own people, but because they were given an odd but truly heartfelt gift.
The Andalusian town with just under 40,000 inhabitants is renowned for its tomato cultivation, with their high-quality "Bombón Colorao" ("Red Bombon") variety regarded as one of the most highly prized in the world.
Considering that Los Palacios y Villafranca is not a metropolis, the gift for its two champions was never going to be extravagant. But it was undeniably charming and, most importantly, it came straight from the heart.
So, to honour their hometown's tradition, Ruiz and Gavi were presented with tomatoes weighing as much as their body weight!
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder went home with 84 kilograms of it, and the Barcelona youngster received 68 kilograms, so their homes will soon be filled with fresh salads and gazpachos.
🚨 153 KG OF TOMATOES!
— Impact Index Daily (@IndexImpact) July 22, 2026
Spain World Cup heroes Fabián Ruiz & Gavi received their exact body weight in local tomatoes in their hometown of Los Palacios! Ruiz (84.5kg) + Gavi (68.5kg) = 153kg of hometown produce. One of football's finest traditions! 🇪🇸🍅🏆 pic.twitter.com/J29ZCcJvEt
While this was Gavi's first time, Ruiz already knew the drill, having received the same gift in 2024 when he won the European Championship with Spain.
Interestingly, the two world champions are only the second and third players from Los Palacios y Villafranca to achieve this remarkable feat, as their fellow citizen, Jesus Navas, was the first from this town to win the World Cup in 2010 and receive the unique tomato gift.
Therefore, from now on, Los Palacios y Villafranca can boast not only about growing some of the world's finest tomatoes, but also about producing exceptional footballers who become world champions.