MEXICO CITY — A duck dressed in Mexico’s green national soccer jersey and sporting a FIFA tie waddled into a presidential press conference Monday and quickly became the biggest star in the room — upstaging President Claudia Sheinbaum herself.
The duck, named Merlín, has become Mexico’s unofficial mascot for the World Cup. He arrived ahead of the president, settled in facing the gathered reporters, and let his owner do all the talking.
Carla Gómez, who makes her living as a street vendor selling water and soft drinks, spoke on Merlín’s behalf. She introduced her family with evident pride, describing them as a reflection of the countless working-class families across Mexico. “We are the working part” of Mexico, she told those in attendance.
Seated next to the lectern with Merlín front and center were Gómez’s two sons — Carlos, 22, and Cristian, 14. She described Cristian as someone who “doesn’t rest after school” and pitches in daily by selling items and hauling packages.
Carlos described Merlín’s role in their small operation: “He’s the boss of our little business. He’s the one who follows behind us, making sure we’re working and doing things the right way.”
The family takes Merlín’s diet seriously, feeding him small fish and crickets throughout the week, with a special treat of a meat taco reserved for Sundays.
Gómez said she was deeply touched by the outpouring of affection World Cup fans have shown toward Merlín. “It has been the best thing that has happened to us in this life,” she said. She also noted that other ducks the family has raised became well-known in Mexico City’s historic center, including one named Bruna, who was known for wearing tennis shoes.
Gómez believes the family’s story resonated with so many people online because viewers recognized them as “a hard-working family, a family that gets up every day to make ends meet.”
President Sheinbaum eventually had to redirect the briefing back to its original agenda, but not before she attempted to pet Merlín and posed for a photograph alongside the Gómez family.
