Sports
Merlin the Duck emerges as Mexico’s unofficial World Cup mascot
A domesticated duck named Merlin, dressed in a miniature Mexico shirt and custom duck socks, has waddled into the hearts of football fans and emerged as an unlikely unofficial mascot for the country’s World Cup campaign.
Merlin’s rise to fame began during street celebrations after the co-hosts’ 2-0 victory over South Africa in last week’s World Cup opener.
As supporters poured into the streets to celebrate Mexico’s goals, the well-dressed duck moved through crowds along Mexico City’s busy Reforma Avenue.
Onlookers captured the unexpected moment on their phones, and the footage quickly went viral, with fans soon calling for Merlin to be made Mexico’s official World Cup mascot.
“We are very respectful,” said his owner, street merchant Karla Gomez. “We respect the Mexico City mascot axolotl as much as the FIFA jaguar. We don’t like controversy, honestly.”
Gomez, who usually sells beverages on Mexico City streets with her son, Christian, and her duck, said they believed they had gone unnoticed.
“It was a normal day for us,” she said. “We thought we were passing by unnoticed because we never thought Merlin would have that boom.”
Now Gomez proudly embraces her role in the duck’s newfound stardom. Fans frequently stop the family to take selfies with the feathered supporter, who can also be seen cooling off in public fountains.
“I’m Merlin’s mom. I already consider myself as such,” Gomez said. “For us it has been a surprise, truly. The fact that Merlin is the unofficial mascot of the World Cup, we feel very pleased about such a situation and above all that people love my duck.”
Channeling the spirit of Paul the Octopus, Merlin recently tried his beak at match predictions, picking Mexico over South Korea when presented with both flags.
Mexico meet South Korea on Thursday in Group A before facing the Czech Republic on June 24.
Brazil star Vinicius Junior has extended his contract with Real Madrid to 2032, the Spanish giants announced Thursday, quelling months of speculation about his future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Real Madrid FC and Vinicius Jr have agreed the extension of the contract of our player, who is tied to the club until June 30, 2032,” Los Blancos said in a statement.
The 26-year-old has been one of the lynchpins of Real Madrid’s attack in recent years. He has scored 128 goals and provided 100 assists in 375 matches since joining Madrid at age 18 and has helped the club win 14 titles, including La Liga three times and the Champions League twice.
“Vinicius Jr. has become one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods in our history,” the club said in the announcement.
He had entered the final year of his contract, with Spanish and British media linking him with a move to Premier League champions Arsenal.
Financial terms of the extension were not disclosed.
Vinicius wrote on Instagram: “Eight years at the Bernabeu are too few… 6 more years, and forever!”
Vinicius had a busy summer playing for Brazil at the World Cup, where they were knocked out in the last 16. He was Brazil’s top scorer at the World Cup with four goals.
He and Los Blancos enter the 2026-27 season with a new coach – Jose Mourinho, for a second stint – and renewed expectations among fans.
Madrid haven’t won a major title in two years with superstar striker Kylian Mbappe onboard. The club went through two coaches in Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa last season.
The record 15-time European Cup winners have seen Paris Saint-Germain win consecutive Champions League titles. Madrid have finished runner-up to fierce rivals Barcelona for the La Liga title the past two seasons.
Earlier Thursday, Real Madrid reached a deal with Leipzig for the transfer of young Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old forward joined on a seven-year contract.
European football’s governing body is retaining its threat to boycott World Cups despite FIFA apologizing for its failed plan to open up its competitions to private investment.
UEFA on Thursday reiterated that it had lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and said conditions to withdraw its boycott threat had not been met.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions,” it said in a statement. “First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”
It was another bruising day for Infantino, with global football players’ union FIFPRO accusing him of “a profound abuse of presidential power.”
The English Football Association has also withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election.
Even Amnesty International said the “current crisis spotlights the need for governance reforms.”
FIFA and Infantino tried to present a united front following a high-level summit in Morocco on Wednesday when it announced the president had the full support of top staff in attendance.
The world governing body also apologized to its 211 members for errors made over its controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to “ensure they do not happen again.”
FIFA said it hoped its meeting would “help restore confidence” in the organization after the turbulence created by Infantino’s now-abandoned project, which provoked widespread condemnation.
UEFA voted to abandon FIFA competitions if it went ahead. And even after Infantino’s hasty climbdown, Europe’s governing body said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership – paving the way for a challenge to his presidency.
In its defiant statement, UEFA made it clear its position still held.
“Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favor) agree with him changes nothing,” it said.
UEFA did not say if teams would boycott FIFA’s next event – the women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland next month.
For Infantino, the immediate priority has been containing the political fallout ahead of March’s presidential election in Morocco, when he will seek a fourth term through 2031.
Infantino continues to enjoy strong support from many smaller associations, particularly across Africa and Asia, where FIFA development funding remains central to national soccer programmes, and he still appears well placed politically with no viable challenger emerging ahead of the election.
Arsenal are preparing a blockbuster bid for Vinicius Junior as uncertainty surrounding the Brazilian star’s future at Real Madrid continues to grow, with stalled contract negotiations opening the door for one of the biggest transfers of the summer.
The reigning Premier League champions are closely monitoring the situation after Vinicius and Real Madrid failed to reach an agreement on a new contract despite nearly 18 months of negotiations.
With the 26-year-old entering the final year of his current deal, Arsenal are ready to capitalize if discussions between the player and the Spanish giants ultimately collapse.
According to Cadena SER, Arsenal are prepared to submit an offer worth 100 million euros ($116 million) plus an additional 20 million in performance-related bonuses.
While no formal bid has been made, the London club has reportedly received internal approval to pursue one of world football’s most explosive attacking talents.
Real Madrid, however, remain reluctant to sell.
Reports in Spain suggest the club values Vinicius at between 150 million euros and 160 million euros, reflecting his status as one of Europe’s elite forwards and his importance to new head coach José Mourinho’s plans.
The biggest obstacle remains Vinicius’ contract renewal.
The Brazilian is reportedly seeking an annual package worth about 30 million euros, including salary, bonuses and a renewal payment. Real Madrid have refused to meet those demands, determined to maintain their wage structure while avoiding a situation in which Vinicius surpasses or matches the club’s highest earners.
Madrid recently improved their proposal following meetings involving the player’s representatives, general director Josa Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat.
The revised offer is believed to be worth between 22 million euros and 24 million euros annually once performance bonuses are included.
Club president Florentino Perez has reportedly made it clear that the latest proposal represents the club’s final position, with discussions also centering on image rights and the size of a loyalty bonus.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Real Madrid remain determined to keep the Brazilian and avoid the possibility of losing him for free in 2027, when he would be eligible to negotiate with overseas clubs from January if no extension is agreed.
Arsenal, meanwhile, view Vinicius as the ideal addition to Mikel Arteta’s attack.
The Gunners believe his blistering pace, exceptional dribbling ability, creativity and eye for goal would elevate an already title-winning squad.
Although his wage demands would comfortably exceed the salaries of Arsenal’s current top earners, including Bukayo Saka, the club is reportedly willing to restructure its wage model for a player of Vinicius’ caliber through signing bonuses and commercial agreements.
The move would also carry enormous commercial value, with Vinicius regarded as one of football’s biggest global stars.
The Brazilian continues to justify that reputation with his performances on the pitch.
He scored 22 goals and supplied 14 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions during the 2025-26 season, extending his remarkable consistency in front of goal. He has now recorded at least 30 goal contributions in each of the past five seasons, cementing his place among the world’s most productive attacking players.
At 26, Vinicius is entering the peak of his career, making him one of the most coveted players on the market.
For now, the transfer hinges entirely on his response to Real Madrid’s latest contract offer.
Some reports suggest a breakthrough remains possible and that the winger is leaning toward staying at the Santiago Bernabéu. Others maintain Arsenal are ready to move immediately should negotiations break down.
Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor was officially completed on Thursday after the Turkish club confirmed the financial terms of a landmark two-year contract that brings one of world football’s biggest stars to the Black Sea side following the end of his celebrated Liverpool career.
Trabzonspor disclosed the agreement in a filing to Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), the stock exchange system used by publicly traded football clubs, revealing that Salah will receive a guaranteed 17 million euros ($19.6 million) per season.
The package includes an annual salary of 10 million euros and a 7 million euro signing bonus for each year of the contract, which runs through the summer of 2028. The agreement also features performance-related bonuses and a clause granting Salah 20% of revenue generated from merchandise bearing his name. The club will also pay an agent commission equal to 5% of the player’s gross salary.
The deal represents one of the richest contracts ever handed out in Turkish football and underlines Trabzonspor’s ambition to challenge domestically while raising its global profile.
Salah joined as a free agent after leaving Liverpool at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, ending a remarkable nine-year spell at Anfield.
The 34-year-old departed as one of the greatest players in the club’s history, having scored 257 goals in 442 appearances, becoming the Premier League’s highest-scoring foreign player and Liverpool’s third-leading scorer of all time.
During his time on Merseyside, Salah won multiple major trophies, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, while collecting numerous individual honors.
His arrival marks one of the most significant transfers in Trabzonspor’s history and one of the biggest free-agent signings Turkish football has ever witnessed.
Thousands of supporters turned out to welcome the Egypt captain after he arrived in Trabzon on Wednesday aboard a private jet.
Fans packed the airport dressed in the club’s burgundy and blue colors, lighting flares, chanting his name and celebrating the arrival of a player whose global reputation has transformed expectations around the club.
Salah admitted he had never experienced a reception on such a scale.
“First of all, let me say that I am incredibly happy to be here,” he said.
“Honestly, I’m struggling to find the words to describe how surprised and happy I am. There are 25,000 people here. Believe me, I don’t remember ever experiencing anything like this before.”
The emotional welcome only strengthened his determination to deliver success in his latest challenge.
“I’ve achieved success at every club I’ve played for,” Salah said. “I’ve always been a successful footballer, and that’s exactly what I intend to do here as well.”
The Egyptian added that his ambition is to compete for silverware both in Türkiye and in Europe.
“I am really happy and looking forward to training with the team. Everywhere I go I always win or try to win something. Hopefully we can do something in the league and in Europe as well.”
Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan praised supporters for the remarkable turnout and said the reception reflected the stature of the club’s newest signing.
“Mohamed Salah is a global star. Our fans have shown how a player of his stature should be welcomed. I send my love and gratitude to all of them.”
Salah posed with Doğan and supporters while making Trabzonspor’s signature three-finger salute before leaving the airport ahead of his official unveiling at Papara Park.
The move concludes a transfer saga that accelerated after negotiations with Beşiktaş collapsed over financial and commercial terms. Trabzonspor quickly seized the opportunity, with Doğan and Salah’s representatives finalizing the agreement before the player traveled to Türkiye.
Although Salah attracted interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, Major League Soccer and several European teams, he chose to remain in European football despite reportedly receiving more lucrative offers elsewhere.
The commercial impact of the signing is expected to be substantial.
Beyond his salary, the merchandise-sharing agreement reflects Trabzonspor’s belief that Salah’s enormous global following will generate significant shirt sales, attract new sponsorships and expand the club’s international reach. Reports indicate that sponsorship partnerships will play a major role in financing the historic deal.
Trabzonspor finished third in the 2025-26 Süper Lig to secure a place in the UEFA Europa League playoffs, and the club believes Salah’s experience, leadership and elite goal-scoring ability can elevate its ambitions both domestically and in continental competition.
The club from Türkiye’s northeastern Black Sea region is one of only six teams to have won the Turkish top-flight title and has long been regarded as the country’s strongest club outside Istanbul’s traditional powers of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş.
Upon his arrival, Salah wore a shirt bearing the number 61, a tribute to Trabzon’s famous regional code and one of the city’s most recognizable symbols. He is expected to wear the No. 10 shirt in competitive matches.
Fresh from helping Egypt reach the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Salah arrives with 66 international goals in 119 appearances and a reputation as one of Africa’s greatest footballers.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-awaited wedding to partner Georgina Rodriguez has once again become the subject of global speculation, with unverified reports about a leaked invitation, a star-studded guest list and the possibility of Lionel Messi attending captivating fans despite no official confirmation from the couple.
Rumors intensified after an invitation, purportedly for Ronaldo and Rodriguez’s wedding, circulated online in late July.
The invitation claimed the ceremony would take place on Aug. 1 at the historic Quinta da Regaleira palace in Sintra, Portugal, with guests asked to wear black.
The claims were quickly challenged.
Spanish magazine ¡HOLA! and Portuguese media reported that the invitation was fake, while journalist Ivan Garcia, a close friend of Rodriguez, said no wedding had been scheduled for that date. The doubts grew stronger after Quinta da Regaleira remained open to tourists throughout Aug. 1 and hosted a previously scheduled cultural event, making it highly unlikely that a private celebrity wedding had taken place there.
The episode did little to slow speculation surrounding one of football’s most recognizable couples.
Attention has since shifted to Madeira, Ronaldo’s birthplace, where several British and Portuguese media outlets have suggested the couple could instead marry on Aug. 8.
According to those reports, Ronaldo and Rodriguez are considering a ceremony at Funchal Cathedral before hosting an exclusive reception at the nearby five-star Savoy Palace hotel. The location would carry deep personal significance for Ronaldo, who was born in Funchal and began his football journey on the Portuguese island.
Neither the couple, their representatives, the cathedral nor the hotel has confirmed those reports.
The uncertainty has not stopped widespread discussion about who might attend.
Unofficial guest lists circulating online feature an array of football stars and entertainment celebrities, including former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand, Real Madrid forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, actor Vin Diesel and music stars Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Drake and Travis Scott.
The name attracting the most attention, however, is Messi.
Several unofficial lists have claimed the Argentine great could receive an invitation, raising the prospect of football’s two defining rivals sharing a celebration away from the pitch. The possibility has fueled excitement among supporters who have spent nearly two decades watching Ronaldo and Messi compete for football’s biggest prizes.
Still, there is no credible evidence that Messi has been invited or plans to attend. More reliable reports have noted that no verified guest list has been released, and neither Ronaldo’s nor Messi’s representatives have commented on the speculation.
Ronaldo, 41, and Rodriguez have been together since 2016 and announced their engagement in 2025 after nearly a decade as a couple. The pair share a family and have frequently spoken about their commitment, although they have remained private about wedding plans.
The speculation gained momentum after Ronaldo previously indicated he hoped to marry after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Portugal’s elimination in the round of 16 reignited rumors that the wedding could soon follow, but family members, including Ronaldo’s sisters, have repeatedly indicated that no confirmed date has been set.
Rodriguez has also spoken in the past about preferring a more intimate celebration rather than an extravagant public event.
Fenerbahçe moved a step closer to the UEFA Champions League playoffs with a commanding 2-0 victory over Austrian champions Sturm Graz in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie on Wednesday, combining clinical finishing with a disciplined defensive display to earn a deserved advantage ahead of next week’s return match.
Backed by nearly 40,000 supporters at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul, the Turkish side controlled the contest from start to finish, with Anderson Talisca and Mason Greenwood finding the net before halftime while the visitors struggled to create meaningful opportunities.
The result leaves İsmail Kartal’s team in a strong position before traveling to Austria on Aug. 11, although the Fenerbahçe coach insisted the tie remains far from over.
“We could have won 3-0 or 4-0,” Kartal said after the match. “But Champions League ties are always difficult because they are played over two legs. We’ll approach the return match as if the score is still 0-0. A 2-0 lead guarantees nothing.”
Fenerbahçe wasted little time asserting themselves.
Talisca opened the scoring in the ninth minute after Kerem Aktürkoğlu slipped a pass into the penalty area. The Brazilian controlled the ball with his back to goal, turned sharply and drove a left-footed finish beyond goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov into the bottom corner.
The hosts continued to dominate possession and pinned Sturm Graz deep inside their own half. Their pressure paid off again in first-half stoppage time when a short-corner routine caught the Austrian defense off guard. Marco Asensio rolled the ball to Greenwood outside the area, and the English forward curled a precise left-footed strike inside the near post for his first goal in a Fenerbahçe shirt.
The second half followed a similar pattern.
Fenerbahçe dictated possession, controlled the tempo and rarely allowed Sturm Graz to threaten. Milan Škriniar marshaled the defense superbly, while Khudyakov prevented the scoreline from becoming more emphatic with impressive saves from Greenwood, Talisca and Aktürkoğlu.
The statistics highlighted the gulf between the teams. Fenerbahçe finished with about 72% possession, outshot Sturm Graz 17-5 and forced 10 saves on target compared with just one effort from the visitors. Attendance was 39,800, with English referee Chris Kavanagh in charge.
Kartal’s plans were briefly disrupted when left back Jayden Oosterwolde limped off with a hamstring injury around the half-hour mark, forcing Archie Brown into the match. Fred and İrfan Can Kahveci were among the substitutes introduced later as Fenerbahçe comfortably protected their lead.
Kartal said Oosterwolde’s condition would only become clear after medical tests.
“He told me he felt something in his hamstring,” Kartal said. “We’ll know the extent of the injury after the MRI.”
The Fenerbahçe manager also praised his squad’s tactical discipline, revealing he held detailed meetings with the players before the match.
“We prepared very well all week and analyzed our opponent carefully,” he said. “Everything we worked on in training appeared on the field. I’m pleased the players followed the tactical plan because we hardly allowed our opponents any chances.”
Kartal was equally encouraged by the performances of several of his new signings.
Greenwood, who marked his European debut for the club with a goal, is still working toward full fitness, according to the coach.
“We signed Greenwood because we know his quality,” Kartal said. “He’s training with great determination and gives us everything we ask for. He’s probably around 70% of his physical condition now, but I expect him to be close to 100% within a week.”
The coach also praised midfielder N’Golo Kanté, saying the veteran’s intelligence and work ethic made him a natural fit for Fenerbahçe’s system, while highlighting Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s response after an inconsistent opening half.
“Kerem is a very important player for us,” Kartal said. “I spoke to him at halftime and asked him to keep the ball more and help with the pressing. He responded brilliantly and had a very good second half.”
Sturm Graz coach Fabio Ingolitsch admitted his side struggled against the quality of their opponents and acknowledged the intimidating atmosphere in Istanbul.
“It wasn’t as easy as we hoped,” Ingolitsch said. “Fenerbahçe’s quality players made the difference. We wanted to change things in the second half, but they didn’t allow us to play the game we wanted.”
He said the home crowd made life even more difficult for his players.
“When you feel the atmosphere here, it’s difficult to expect a normal performance,” Ingolitsch said. “Fenerbahçe are a very strong team, and they showed that through both their quality and the way they played.”
The Austrian coach reserved particular praise for Talisca, whose movement and finishing proved decisive.
“It’s very difficult to stop Talisca,” Ingolitsch said. “You can try to limit his influence, but eventually his quality comes through. It’s not only difficult for us. Any team would struggle to contain a player like him.”
Despite trailing by two goals, Ingolitsch insisted the tie is still alive and believes Sturm Graz can mount a comeback in front of their own supporters.
“We’ll try to use the advantage of playing at home,” he said. “Our objective is to take control early and try to turn the tie around.”
The aggregate winner will advance to the Champions League playoff round, where a meeting with either Sparta Prague or Olympique Lyon awaits.
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