Merlin the World Cup Mexican Duck!
Mexico City, June 20 (EFE).-
The goals of Raúl Jiménez or Luis Romo in the World Cup are as viral as any photo of Merlin, the “World Cup duck” that put the Mexican family of Karla Gómez, owner of the little winged creature and single mother of Carlos and Cristian, at the center of the tournament’s conversation.
The Gómez family never separates; they flock as they sell sodas and water together in the Mexican capital, and, now that Merlin has achieved fame, they will also accept going as a group if called upon by the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum.
“Not yet (they haven’t contacted us), but the nervousness is there. The fact of being there with the supreme commander, it’s an impressive nervousness,” Karla assures EFE, who has not stopped answering calls and messages since June 11, when millions of people in Mexico City turned Merlin into the unofficial mascot of the World Cup.
Karla remembers well the day when Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa. Cristian and Merlin put on the national team’s jersey, prepared the merchandise, and went out together, as always, to sell beverages in the rain.
An everyday image for the family that became engraved in the memory of the World Cup inauguration and that to this day continues to circulate on social media with photos, videos, and portraits generated with artificial intelligence (AI).
The magic of Merlin
Explaining “the magic” of Merlin is not easy, but Karla says that when Mexicans see him, what they actually look at is the reflection of a “real Mexican family” that works without rest.
“He is a hardworking duck, who gets up early, hustles (…) and, besides, knows how to play soccer,” jokes the owner, who has seen how on social media many Mexicans, mainly men, both residents and migrants, identify with the figure of the “magic duck.”
She maintains that Merlin has also helped her tell her story and break the stigmas of those who criticize women who face raising their children alone: “We also work hard.”
The risks of virality
More than 10 days have passed since Merlin went viral, a virality that turned him into the official ambassador of the World Cup in Mexico City, chosen by FIFA, and caused different brands, from airlines to betting houses, to profit from his image without asking the family for permission.
“I don’t think it’s fair that companies are profiting from love,” exclaims Karla, who assures that next week she will begin the trademark registration process so that Mexican cooperatives like Pascual Boing can approach her and collaborate.
Karla has also received threats of lawsuits from different users and has seen how her son Cristian, who has accompanied her in various interviews, has become the target of harsh criticism on social media, and she states, “I am not going to allow that.”
Despite this, the Gómez family remains united as a flock. “Merlin adapted to our pace of life, and we adapted to him,” she concludes about the animal whom they consider a son and a brother.
Center of attention
Former Mexican President Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) asked FIFA to “pitch in” with royalties or financial support for the family of Merlin the duck.
“They should give them royalties or good financial support, with all the money FIFA is making,” Calderón wrote on X, responding to the post by the FIFA World Cup 26 Mexico City account that presented Merlin as an ambassador.
The former president maintained that FIFA, international media, and other actors are commercializing the image of Merlin the duck, which is why his popularity should not just remain as recognition.
“It can’t be that his owner, that kid who raised him, is left after the World Cup with no other option than to help his mom sell water on the street,” Calderón stated in the post. EFE
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