Seville, Spain: Spain’s FIFA World Cup triumph continues to be celebrated across the country, but one town in southern Spain has found an especially unique way to honour two of its football stars.
The municipality of Los Palacios y Villafranca, located in Spain’s Seville province, rewarded midfielders Fabián Ruiz and Gavi with tomatoes weighing exactly the same as their body weight in recognition of their contribution to Spain’s World Cup-winning campaign.
The unusual tribute reflects the town’s long-standing reputation as one of Spain’s leading tomato-producing regions, where agriculture remains central to the local economy and identity.
Players Honoured With Weight-Matched Tomato Reward
A special ceremony was held at the town hall, where residents, local officials, and supporters gathered to celebrate the two footballers’ achievements.
As part of the event, both players were weighed before receiving tomatoes equal to their body weight.
Fabián Ruiz, who weighed 85 kilograms, received 85 kilograms of tomatoes, while Gavi was presented with 68.5 kilograms of the locally grown produce.
The symbolic award was intended to highlight both the town’s agricultural heritage and its pride in two players who helped bring football’s biggest prize back to Spain.
Local Authorities Announce Additional Tribute
During the ceremony, municipal authorities announced that two football grounds in Los Palacios y Villafranca would be renamed after Fabián Ruiz and Gavi in recognition of their sporting achievements and their role in inspiring young athletes in the region.
Officials described the players as hometown heroes whose success has brought international recognition to the municipality.
Both Midfielders Played Key Roles in Spain’s Campaign
Thirty-year-old Fabián Ruiz played a significant role during Spain’s World Cup campaign, spending 366 minutes on the pitch and scoring his team’s opening goal in the quarter-final victory over Belgium.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Gavi featured for 85 minutes during the tournament, contributing to Spain’s midfield depth as the team secured the World Cup title.
Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy on 19 July, sparking celebrations across the country, with players continuing to receive recognition from clubs, local governments, and supporters for their contribution to the historic triumph.
Los Palacios y Villafranca is widely known throughout Spain for its high-quality tomato production and hosts agricultural events celebrating the crop each year. The town has a long tradition of honouring successful local figures, and the decision to reward Fabián Ruiz and Gavi with tomatoes matching their body weight was intended to combine local heritage with national sporting success. The renaming of football pitches in their honour further reflects the municipality’s commitment to recognising athletes who have represented the region on the international stage.
