Merlin the Duck Steals the Spotlight at President Sheinbaum's News Briefing
Carla Gómez said the duck is her family’s mascot and called the appearance a chance to show working-class Mexicans.
- On Monday, Merlin the duck, dressed in a Mexico national soccer team jersey, waddled into the National Palace to attend President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily press briefing in Mexico City, quickly becoming the star of the event.
- Owner Carla Gomez, a street vendor who sells water and soft drinks, presented her family as representatives of working-class Mexicans, crediting their viral popularity to the public seeing a hard-working family making ends meet.
- Sitting beside the lectern were Gomez's sons, Carlos, 22, and Cristian, 14, who helps sell goods daily; Carlos said Merlin is 'the boss of our little business,' keeping them working the right way.
- The family feeds the 2-year-old duck small fish, crickets, and on Sundays a meat taco, Gomez said, while noting that other ducks they owned, including Bruna, also became local celebrities in Mexico City.
- Reflecting on Merlin's impact, Gomez said the duck's viral fame has been 'the best thing that has happened to us in this life,' capturing the hearts of World Cup fans and symbolizing the family's working-class identity.
67 Articles
67 Articles
The official mascot of the World Cup is a jaguar, but the one who came to the National Palace has been the Merlin duck. For some reason, Mexico is one of the most protocolary countries in the world where the rules break all the time. Sitting a tremendous feline in a chair behind the president was a little more arousing and, above all, much less politically effective. The jaguar may hold the key to the underworld and embody the majestic power of …
Duck Steals the Spotlight at Mexico Press Briefing
Wearing the green jersey of Mexico's national soccer team and a FIFA tie, he waddled into the room ahead of President Claudia Sheinbaum, took a seat facing reporters, and quickly became the star of her Monday morning news briefing. Merlín the duck—Mexico's unofficial World Cup mascot—didn't take any...
Merlin the duck waddles into Mexico's National Palace, at Sheinbaum's invitation
A duck wearing a Mexico soccer jersey took center stage at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference Monday. Merlin, a 2-year-old duck who has gone viral as an unofficial World Cup mascot, appeared at the National Palace alongside his owner, Karla Ivette Gómez, and her family after an invitation from the president. In less than two weeks since the World Cup opener, Merlin has gone from an unusual pet to a nationwide celebrity, worth…
Mexico City's unofficial duck soccer mascot stole the presidential press briefing
Wearing the green jersey of Mexico’s national soccer team and a FIFA tie, he waddled into the room ahead of President Claudia Sheinbaum, took a seat facing reporters and quickly became the star of her Monday morning news briefing. Merlín the duck — Mexico’s unofficial World Cup mascot — didn’t take any questions; his owner, Carla Gómez, did that for him. Gómez, a street vendor who sells water and soft drinks, introduced her family with pride and…
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