Rocking a Mexico kit, Merlin the ‘World Cup Duck’ conquers social media
He wears an El Tri jersey, rocks tiny socks to protect his webbed feet, and treats himself to a weekly carnitas taco after a hard day’s work.
This isn’t an AI creation cooked up to farm millions of views. Meet Merlin, this duck has officially become the most heartwarming, viral breakout star of the 2026 World Cup.
When El Tri fans flooded the streets to celebrate Mexico’s thrilling victory over South Africa in the tournament’s opening match, the usual scene of waving flags and honking horns took a delightfully surreal turn. Waddling calmly right through the center of the chaotic crowd was a duck. But not just any duck—this one was wearing a custom green Mexican national team jersey and a tiny pair of socks. Naturally, hundreds of iPhones immediately whipped out to capture the moment.
The footage spread like wildfire across social media, with captions declaring, “Mexico is officially out-weirding artificial intelligence.” But beneath the internet fame lies a deeply touching family backstory that began long before the world fell in love with a World Cup duck.
“We named him Merlin because of the wizard; our duck just feels a little bit magical to us,” Karla Ivette, the owner of the internet’s favorite mallard, told ESPN.
For Karla’s family, raising high-profile poultry is practically a family tradition. Long before Merlin, there were Bruna and Waffle—two ducks who also enjoyed their own slices of internet fame. Waffle, in particular, was a local celebrity in Mexico City’s Centro Histórico, regularly accompanying the family on their weekend work shifts. Tragically, Waffle’s story came to a heartbreaking end when he was intentionally poisoned.
“We were devastated,” Karla recalls. “A customer who knew how heartbroken my son was over losing Waffle stepped in and gifted us Merlin.”
Since that tragic turning point, Merlin has integrated seamlessly into the family business, acting as the ultimate co-pilot at the juice and soda stand they operate every weekend in the heart of the Mexican capital.
Turning a duck into a seasoned urbanite wasn’t an overnight process. Karla spent months training Merlin to handle the sensory overload of Mexico City. “I domesticated him and taught him to follow us, starting with a harness so he could get his bearings,” she explains. “At first, he was terrified of the crowds, the traffic, and the noise. But he got used to it, and now we don’t even need the leash. He just follows us everywhere.”
The sight of Merlin strutting down the pavement in his signature El Tri kit has officially crossed international borders. His viral antics have already been picked up by major sports desks in England, Spain, Germany, and beyond.
“People keep messaging us saying Merlin is famous all over the world now, and the media keeps calling for interviews,” Karla says with a smile.
A huge part of his charm comes down to his custom wardrobe. Local street vendors and loyal customers frequently gift him tiny socks to protect his webbed feet from the blistering hot asphalt. “The other merchants in the center are the ones who supply his socks so his little feet don’t get hurt,” Karla notes.
With global fame comes a lot of eager buyers, but the family insists that Merlin isn’t for sale at any price. “People ask me how much I want for him, and I tell them absolutely not. He’s the official mascot of our business, he’s a part of our family, and you can’t put a price tag on that.”
At two years old, Merlin lives a premium lifestyle. His daily diet consists of specialized waterfowl feed, fresh fruits, and crisp vegetables. But once a week, he gets the ultimate cheat meal: a single carnitas taco.
And don’t let the cute outfits fool you—Merlíi can hold his own in the rough-and-tumble streets of Mexico City. Whenever a stray dog gets a little too curious, he isn’t afraid to throw down. “Ducks can actually defend themselves pretty well,” Karla points out. “If a dog gets too close, he’ll start pecking at them to establish boundaries. He isn’t aggressive, though—he’s just an extraordinary little guy.”
As the 2026 World Cup bracket heats up, Merlin will keep holding down the fort on the streets of Mexico City. Equipped with nothing but a green jersey, a pair of local socks, and a larger-than-life personality, the “World Cup Duck” has successfully stolen the spotlight.
And back at home, his status as the undisputed king of the household is completely locked in.
“He’s my grand-duck,” Karla laughs. “The spoiled one, the prodigal child, and the sole heir to everything we own.”
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