Meet Merlin the duck: Mexico’s unexpected World Cup mascot stealing hearts online

Mexico may have started its World Cup campaign with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, but it was a very different kind of star that stole the spotlight in Mexico City.

A two-year-old duck named Merlin has become an unexpected viral sensation after being spotted celebrating in a Mexico national team jersey during the country’s opening World Cup win over South Africa.

Within hours, images and videos of Merlin walking through the streets of Mexico City, dressed in full team colors, even wearing tiny socks, spread rapidly across social media, turning the bird into the tournament’s first unofficial mascot.

A local street legend turned global star

Long before going viral, Merlin was already something of a neighborhood fixture in central Mexico City.

He regularly accompanies his owner, Carla Gómez, a street vendor who sells drinks from a small cart near some of the capital’s busiest landmarks. Locals were already familiar with the duck, who often follows her and her young son Cristian through areas such as the Zócalo, Alameda Central, and the Palace of Fine Arts.

According to Gómez, Merlin was originally a gift for her son, and quickly became a constant companion.

“We don’t like to leave him alone at home; we like him to be with us,” she said. “He’s our baby.”

What began as a daily routine soon turned into something much bigger, as passersby began stopping for photos and videos of the unusually sociable bird.

Merlin’s rise to fame accelerated almost overnight after Mexico’s opening match, when celebratory crowds and viral clips placed him at the center of the moment. Social media users quickly embraced the duck as a symbol of joy and chaos surrounding the tournament.

“This duck is already a national treasure,” one post read. Another simply called him “the best thing about the World Cup so far.”

His popularity has grown so quickly that FIFA representatives have already met with Gómez and Merlin for promotional photos and filming, cementing his place, unofficially, in World Cup culture. For Gómez, the attention is still surreal.

“He is always with us; we never imagined he’d become such a sensation,” Gómez said.

But for fans online, and now millions watching across the world, Merlin is already something more than a pet. He’s a mascot, a meme, and a reminder that at the World Cup, not all heroes wear shirts… some wear jerseys and tiny socks.

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