sports

Merino’s 2026 World Cup goal turns into viral anime clip

Published July 11, 2026 · Updated July 12, 2026 · Mundo Deportivo

Spain's Mikel Merino scored a late goal against Belgium to send the national team to the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. A user on X shared an AI‑generated anime clip of the goal, blending Naruto and football imagery.

Spain’s Mikel Merino’s late strike over Belgium in the 2026 World Cup quarter‑final put the team into the semi‑finals. The goal sparked a viral AI‑generated anime clip posted by X user @diablonemesis, cloned the moment in a Naruto‑style episode featuring Oliver, Benji and a ninja headband on Merino’s hair.

The clip showed Luis de la Fuente in tears and Merino “invoking the gods” with the headband, gaining millions of likes and becoming a meme among football and anime fans. ipl-today.in

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