While the Mexican national team is putting the finishing touches on its preparations for its second World Cup match, scheduled for June 18 against South Korea, an unexpected star has won the hearts of the fans: Merlin, a duck that has become a viral sensation and is already considered by many to be the team’s good-luck charm.
The bird appeared during the celebrations following Mexico’s victory over South Africa in the World Cup opener. Dressed in a Mexican national team jersey tailored to his anatomy, Merlin was spotted walking among the fans, an image that quickly began circulating on social media until it became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament’s early days.
Within hours, the duck inspired illustrations, cartoons, and a slew of memes. The phenomenon reached such proportions that even the Mexican national team’s official accounts joined the conversation. “This is what makes us unique! We’re all die-hard fans, even those you’d least expect,” the national team posted alongside a watercolor illustration by X user José Ángel (@RustyAngello), showing Merlin celebrating with the Independence Column in the background.
El Tricolor also shared another message accompanied by videos of the duck that have been circulating in recent hours. “Passion for our colors knows no species. We love you so much, our die-hard little duck,” wrote the Mexican national team.
Behind the unexpected celebrity is Carla Gómez, a vendor who sells bottled water near the Alameda Central. Together with her son Christian, she has been caring for Merlin for a couple of years.
The duck’s popularity wasn’t limited to Mexican fans. Images of him crossed borders and piqued the interest of foreign journalists in the country covering the World Cup, becoming yet another example of the color and creativity that often accompany Mexican fans.
Merlin’s story also reflects the ability of Mexican popular culture to appropriate unexpected symbols and turn them into collective emblems. Even in a tournament labeled by some fans as elitist due to the high cost of tickets, the duck has emerged as a spontaneous and relatable figure, born on the streets and adopted by thousands of fans who dream of accompanying El Tri on a new World Cup adventure.
