Big Question: Where does Goleo Rank in the Pantheon of World Cup Mascots?
It is a scenario that takes place in pubs around the world. You are there with your friends and the subject of the World Cup comes up. You toss around questions like, who was better Pele or Maradona? Who’s going to win this year? What do you think of this World Cup’s mascot? In an effort to help you answer this burning question, we have ranked the mascots throughout history based on a very scientific analysis: how stupid we think they look. We start from the top with the mascots we like and work our way down to the ones we never, ever want to set our eyes on again. Where does this year’s creature fall into place? See for yourself.
#1 England ‘66 World Cup Willie
#2 West Germany ‘74 Tip and Tap
#3 Argentina ‘78 Gauchito
Tie #4 Mexico ‘70 Juanito
Tie #4 Mexico ‘86 Pique
#6 USA ‘94 Striker
#7 France ‘98 Footix
#8 Germany 2006 Goleo VI
#9 Spain ‘82 Naranjito
#10. Italia ‘90 Ciao
#11. Korea/Japan 2002 The Spheriks (Ato Kaz and Nik)
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Comments
By pf | April 4th, 2006 at 12:52 am 
Well, it’s definitely hairy and it’s missing shorts….
Kinda resembles an short fat wookie with a soccer jersey!
Posted from 
United States
By Gibb | April 4th, 2006 at 3:02 am The Spherics from 2002 are really like an LSD trip to me.
I liked Pique und Naranjito. The later had an own TV series.
Ciao looks stange without animation, what in 1990, there were always clips on tv an so it did not look so soulless.
Posted from 
Germany
By Euler | April 4th, 2006 at 8:51 am To me #1 is the French Footix. He is very well drawed.
#2 is the American Striker. Not only he has a good name but also is a nice little dog.
#3 is the original lion Willie. Looks like he likes football, don’t ask me why.
This Goleo (VI?) is a clone gone bad from Willie. Not only that but he has that strange living ball in his hand. What does that ball eats? Grass? Argh!
By kapcro | April 4th, 2006 at 8:55 am Goleo looks ilke he can kick all the other mascots’ butts. Ciao doesn’t look like he could walk after a soccer ball let alone kick it. I’m sure kids will be attracted to Goleo given his big and fuzzy profile.
Posted from United States
By Euler | April 4th, 2006 at 9:08 am Kapcro is tripping. That freaking ball will eat him like in a B horror movie. He looks like a dude wearing a bad costume sewating like hell full of skin problems!!!
German mascot should be that beautiful eagle they have in their coins!!! Have you seen their coins? I have some and they are amazing.
By Euler | April 4th, 2006 at 9:16 am Want to see some German coins?
http://www.honscha.de/bilder/100d04g.jpg
http://www.amergold.com/vault/images/German20Mark-Reverse.jpg
http://www.24carat.co.uk/images/2002german10eurosilverobv240.JPG
http://www.photospin.com/content/photos/preview/0460085.jpg
http://www.germaniainternational.com/images/kingandqueencoinbrooch04.jpg
http://www.dreamstime.com/fivemark-thumb60432
By Chris | April 4th, 2006 at 9:49 am Where does Germany get a lion from their heritage anyway? Euler is right, the eagle would be much more appropriate. At a stretch the bear from Berlin. And that ball truly is from some cheap freak show movie. Parents can use it to scare their children – “If you don’t go to bed right now, mister, that freaky ball that’s outside eating our lawn is gonna come in here and bite your arm off!”
And what’s with the exposed midriffs from ‘70 & ‘74? What is that in Gauchito’s hand? A riding crop? What does that signify? The Argentinian elite took a month off from their polo tournament to endorse the WC?
Italia ‘90 was the first WC I was old enough to really appreciate and I remember thinking Ciao was cool.
Posted from United States
By kapcro | April 4th, 2006 at 9:57 am Euler you’re right forgot my medication this morning. Didn’t say I warmed up to Goleo, think the kids will. Totally agree with the eagle concept. The marketing masters aren’t selling to you are they? When I said he looks like he can kick the other mascots’ butts I meant he’s big and scary, Dude.
Posted from United States
By kapcro | April 4th, 2006 at 10:13 am Forgot to mention, didn’t even notice the ugly face on the ball. That ball will probably be talking to that portly lion on TV somewhere down the road and that’s even scarier. Personal favorite by the way, Footix. What’s with the “to be or not to be” pose on the lion.
Posted from United States
By John | April 4th, 2006 at 10:59 am You have a jalapeño, a handlebar mustache, and a sombrero. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Only the French would have a chicken as their mascot. At least he didn’t look like this guy: http://www.aldaver.com/Images/Ec/ec1984ms.gif
Posted from United States
By kapcro | April 4th, 2006 at 12:08 pm Pique reminded me of the old Frito Bandito character in the tortila chip commercials. Pique has some big feet there.
Posted from United States
By Bob | April 4th, 2006 at 12:12 pm You know what they say about mascots with big feet…
Posted from United States
By Bense | April 4th, 2006 at 12:55 pm I liked Pique and Ciao.
Maybe I’ll post a story on the mascot issue later on.
Posted from United States
By kapcro | April 4th, 2006 at 3:35 pm Bob you made me laugh. Thank you.
Posted from United States
By John | April 4th, 2006 at 5:49 pm Pique had to have big feet in order to support his big head. I beleive gauchito is carrying a riding crop. He is a guacho, after all. He also looks suspiciously like Sport Billy.
Posted from United States
By kapcro | April 4th, 2006 at 6:44 pm That explains his big Jalapeno
Posted from United States
By kapcro | April 4th, 2006 at 6:56 pm Just happened to show my wife the mascots. Now mind you sports means nothing to her, except if Croatia is playing. Her number 1 choice is Pique. Go figure. Interestingly, She doesn’t get Goleo either.
Posted from United States
By Nayo | May 15th, 2006 at 10:41 am I think Pique has been and will be the best mascot ever.
Posted from United States
By Tony | July 2nd, 2006 at 11:02 am I would say that USA 94’s mascot, Striker is the best.
Japan Korea 2002 is the 2nd most disappointing (Goleo is the worst of all time) because Japan is famous for creating an endless stream of cute little characters. Pokemon, Doraemon, Astroboy, Hello Kitty etc. Shame on them.
The only consolation is that Goleo is the worst mascot of all time. This is also surprising because Germany is one of the world’s capitals of graphic design. It is also home to some of the world’s best known brands of art supplies and stationary, like Lyra and Staedtler. They are on the cutting edge. I don’t know what the organising committee was thinking when it OKed Goleo. Shame on them too.
Posted from 
Singapore
By squiggle | July 2nd, 2006 at 1:40 pm I like Goleo, though like everyone else I wonder why a lion was chosen. Pique is my favourite, followed by Willie and Footix.
I find the children a little creepy.
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