How Merlin The Duck Became Mexico’s Viral World Cup ‘mascot’

Mexico's World Cup-opening victory complete South Africa saw goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, but it was an unexpected feathered friend who genuinely stole nan show.

Merlin, a two-year-old duck, swiftly became an net sensation and nan tournament’s inaugural unofficial mascot.

Dressed successful nan nationalist team’s colours, complete pinch a miniature jersey and socks, Merlin paraded done Mexico City amidst thousands of jubilant fans.

Images of nan sartorially splendid duck quickly went viral, racking up millions of views crossed societal media platforms. Overnight, and seemingly by nan magic of nan celebrated wizard who inspired his name, Merlin captivated nan internet.

“We want to spot Merlin successful nan stadium,” 1 personification wrote. “This duck is already a nationalist treasure,” said another. “The champion point astir nan World Cup truthful far,” declared a third.

In Mexico City, however, Merlin was already thing of a section celebrity.

A acquainted show astatine fairs and events successful nan historical metropolis center, nan duck regularly accompanies his owner, Carla Gómez, who sells h2o and soft drinks from a small cart each weekend. Along nan way, nan animal attracts plentifulness of delighted squeals, affectionate greetings and eager requests from passersby for a photograph together.

“We don’t for illustration to time off him unsocial astatine home; we for illustration him to beryllium pinch us. He’s our baby,” Gómez said. “He’s nan baby, nan sole heir to each my possessions and now an idol.”

Rain aliases shine, Merlin follows Gómez and her young boy Cristian done immoderate of nan capital’s best-known landmarks, including Alameda Central, nan Palace of Fine Arts and nan Zócalo square. The duck shares a peculiarly adjacent enslaved pinch Cristian, for whom he was primitively a gift, becoming what Gómez describes arsenic nan boy's inseparable companion.

“Merlin had already go celebrated for trading bottled water,” Gómez said, recalling her astonishment astatine her pet’s abrupt emergence to fame.

“He is ever pinch us; we ne'er imagined he’d go specified a sensation,” she added. “We weren’t expecting it.”

Now, nan family hopes Mexico’s celebrated feathered protagonist tin proceed bringing luck to nan big nation, which is staging nan World Cup for nan 3rd clip aft hosting nan tourney successful 1970 and 1986 — this clip a co-host alongside Canada and nan United States.

“Mexico, we are pinch you,” Gómez said. “And Merlin is your No. 1 fan.”