Fabian Ruiz and Gavi have been welcomed home to their birthplace with one of football's most distinctive tributes — each received their own body weight in tomatoes after helping Spain win the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The two midfielders grew up in Los Palacios y Villafranca, a town south of Seville with a population of under 40,000. On Wednesday, they returned for an official reception at the town hall, gold medals around their necks, to a rapturous reception from local officials and a large crowd of supporters.

The weigh-in tradition

The ceremony included a literal weigh-in: both players stepped onto scales so organisers could calculate exactly how many tomatoes they deserved. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ruiz, who started the final against Argentina, will collect 85kg, while Barcelona's Gavi will take home 68.5kg.

Local officials described the gesture as a tradition that