Spanish World Cup Winners Gifted Their Weight in Tomatoes Thanks to Unique Local Tradition

Spain’s World Cup-winning players are being rewarded in a tomato-themed hometown tradition, tying the sport’s biggest victory to an agricultural celebration. On Tuesday, July 21, ESPN reported that midfielders Fabián Ruiz and Gavi received tomatoes equal to their body weights at a reception at the town hall in Los Palacios y Villafranca. Ruiz, 30 and a Paris Saint-Germain player, weighed 185 lbs, while Gavi, 21, tipped the scales at 150 lbs, before receiving their tomato allotments. The custom began in 2010, when Jesús Navas was gifted several bushels of tomatoes for his role in Spain’s title run. The pair also toured Madrid on Monday in an open-air bus after the team’s 1-0 win over Argentina in the FIFA final. About 1.8 million people gathered at Plaza de Cibeles. The team met King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and daughters Princess Leonor and Princess Sofía, then met Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.