As Mexico celebrated its World Cup-opening victory over South Africa on Thursday, Merlin, a 2-year-old duck dressed in the national team’s colors, became an unlikely internet sensation and the tournament’s first unofficial mascot.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez may have scored for Mexico, but Merlin the duck stole the show. The 2-year-old duck dressed in Mexico’s national colors became an internet sensation during Mexico’s World Cup-opening victory over South Africa.