Los Palacios y Villafranca Celebrates World Cup Winners with Tomato Tradition
What do you get the soccer player who just won the World Cup? Aside from a trophy of their own, a championship ring, and a winner’s medal, the town of Los Palacios y Villafranca in Spain maintained its tradition started in 2010, the last time Spain won the tournament, and gifted hometown boys Fabián Ruiz and Gavi tomatoes.
A whole lot of tomatoes.
Advertisement
The two La Roja stars grew up in the Spanish town within the province of Seville. Both returned to their hometown on Tuesday and were honored at town hall. As part of the festivities, the players were weighed and given their weight in tomatoes.
If you’re wondering, Ruiz checked in at 185 lbs., while Gavi weighed in at 150 lbs.
Los Palacios y Villafranca is known for its tomatoes and producing elite soccer talent like Ruiz and Gavi, along with the Navas brothers, Jesús and Marco.
The tomato-giving tradition was born in 2010 when Jesús Navas was on the Spanish team that won the World Cup in South Africa.
Advertisement
It’s not just World Cup wins when Los Palacios y Villafranca rewards its famous residents with tomatoes. Following Spain’s victories at the Euros, Jesús Navas (2012) and Ruiz (2024) hopped on the scale and were honored with the haul of vegetables.
The tomato ceremony continued a busy week for Ruiz and Gavi. After beating Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey, the Spanish team flew to Madrid for a parade throughout the city on Monday. The pair were also honored after local soccer fields were renamed “Fabián Ruiz Ruiz Football Field” and “Pablo Martín Páez Gavi Football Field.”
A monument will also be created featuring all three of the town’s World Cup winners.