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Footballers Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez may have scored the decisive goals in the match, but a regular drake completely stole the show, The Guardian reports.

As all of Mexico boisterously celebrated the national team’s victory over South Africa in the World Cup opening match, a two-year-old drake named Merlin, dressed in the national team's colors, turned into a major internet sensation and the tournament's first unofficial mascot.

Footage of Merlin proudly marching through the streets of Mexico City in a signature jersey and tiny socks on his webbed feet, right in front of thousands of cheering fans, instantly went viral, amassing millions of views. As if by the magic of the great wizard he was named after, Merlin made users all over the world fall in love with him overnight.

• "We want to see Merlin in the stadium stands!" users wrote in the comments.

• "This duck is already a Mexican national treasure."

• "Definitely the best thing that has happened at this World Cup so far."

From a water vendor to an idol of millions

For residents of Mexico City, however, Merlin has long been a local celebrity. He can frequently be spotted at fairs and festive events in the capital's historic center. The drake accompanies his owner, Carla Gómez, everywhere she goes as she sells water and refreshments from her small cart on weekends. Every outing of theirs is invariably met with enthusiastic cheers from passersby and lines of people waiting to take a selfie.

"We don't like to leave him home alone; we want him to always be with us. He’s our baby," Carla Gómez says with a smile. "He’s our beloved child, the sole heir to all my property, and now, a global idol."

Rain or shine, Merlin obediently waddles behind Carla and her young son, Cristian, past the capital's most iconic landmarks—from the Alameda Central park and the Palacio de Bellas Artes to the Zócalo main square. Interestingly, the bird was originally bought as a gift for Cristian, and the two have been inseparable friends ever since.

The owner admits she is still reeling from the sheer scale of her pet's sudden fame.

"Merlin was already pretty famous on the streets, helping us sell bottled water. But we could never have imagined he would cause such a crazy global frenzy. We absolutely did not expect this," Carla adds.

Now, the family hopes that their famous feathered fan will continue to bring good luck to El Tri. As a reminder, 2026 marks a historic third time that Mexico is hosting the FIFA World Cup (following the 1970 and 1986 tournaments)—this time as a co-host alongside Canada and the United States.

"Mexico, we are with you!" Carla Gómez declared. "And Merlin is officially your number-one fan."

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