Los Palacios y Villafranca, a Spanish province known for its tomato production, just honored its hometown heroes Fabian Ruiz and Gavi with an absolutely wild prize after Spain won the 2026 World Cup. The two midfielders walked away with their literal weight in fresh tomatoes during a ceremony this Tuesday! We’re talking 85 kilograms for Ruiz, and about 68.5 kilograms for Gavi! That’s a unique way to celebrate a global championship, isn’t it?
The Champions’ Haul
This wasn’t some quiet handover. Ruiz, who’s 30 and plays for Paris Saint-Germain, stepped onto the scales and weighed in at about 187 pounds (85 kg). Gavi, the 21-year-old Barcelona phenom, was right behind him at 151 pounds (68.5 kg). Imagine getting your world champion medal and then a pile of fruit! It’s an awesome nod to their roots in Seville, a province that clearly takes its tomatoes seriously. These guys helped Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup Final on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., so a little local flavor in their celebration feels totally earned.
Beyond the Tomatoes
While the tomatoes are definitely the headline grabber, the city went even further to cement their legacy. Municipal grass soccer fields in the area are getting a rebrand, becoming the “Fabian Ruiz Football Field” and the “Pablo Pez Gabira ‘Gavi’ Football Field.” How cool is that? Plus, there’s a monument in the works to honor Gavi, Ruiz, and Jesus Navas, who’s another local legend from Spain’s 2010 World Cup win. Ruiz played 366 minutes for Spain in the tournament, even scoring the first goal in their 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium. Gavi logged 85 minutes himself. Both of these guys also teamed up for Spain’s 2023 UEFA Nations League title, so they’re no strangers to big wins.
A Royal Treatment (and Rings!)
The tomato weigh-in and field renaming happened after the duo joined their teammates for a massive parade in Madrid on Monday. And don’t forget the national perks either: Spain is bringing home $51 million for the win, plus they’ll be the first World Cup team ever to get customized championship rings. Those rings are getting presented later, but honestly, can anything top your weight in tomatoes? Probably not. What a wild ride for these champions!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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