Osito, the dog on a bicycle, becomes a viral star of the World Cup

While at football fever paralyzes Mexico City in the stands and outside the stadiums a challenge is taking place parallel to popularity blows. And the winner, hands (or rather, paws) down, is not a bomber worth tens of millions of euros, nor the reassuring official mascot of the tournament. In a pantheon of unconventional heartthrobs where the famous Merlin duck already stands out, he thought of definitively stealing the global scene little bear.

Eight years old, crossbreed poodle from his past as a foundling, Osito showed up at the inaugural match of the Mexican national team with an outfit that did not allow for replicas: tricolor shirt, standard sunglasses and cap. All comfortably sitting in the rear compartment of one cargo bike. This was enough to transform the normal flood of cheering into a social frenzy. Among dozens of people on a pilgrimage to the stadium who stopped to take a photo and videos compulsively uploaded online, the dog bounced on television networks around the world in a matter of hours.

The story behind the fame

Yet, behind the millions of views lies a story of everyday life that is almost more endearing than the poodle dressed up for the holidays. For Jorge Rangelfifty-year-old Mexican and proud life partner of Osito, the sudden international fame is just a fun side effect.

Work and daily life

For two years, in fact, this bizarre couple has been beating the chaotic streets of the capital inch by inch. Jorge delivers household products to your home and Osito supervises him from his personalized compartment.

The idea of ​​the cargo bike

It all started by chance, with a test ride in a crate fixed to the frame. A test passed with flying colors by the mixed breed, so much so that Jorge started adding cushions and comfort for long journeys. “More than a dog, he is my everyday companion,” Rangel tells the foreign reporters who are now chasing him.

A beloved presence in the city

Today, the two are a permanent presence in the urban landscape. Osito grinds out kilometers with enviable phlegm. He stands so still and comfortable in his tailored clothes that passers-by often have to look at him twice, initially mistaking him for a giant stuffed animal before realizing he is alive and well.

L’outfit per i mondiali

The idea of ​​dressing it up for i World Cup it was Rangel’s own. As a die-hard fan, he spent the weeks leading up to kick-off taking care of the details, even modifying a pair of sunglasses to fit the face of his four-legged friend.

The secret of success

The real secret of this media success, however, does not lie in a pair of funny glasses. What pierces the smartphone screen is the tangible bond between man and animal.

A special bond

Rangel adopted Osito (whose name literally means “little bear”) in a very dark and complex period of his existence, finding in him a formidable emotional anchor. “I didn’t know what it meant to love an animal until it came into my life,” the man confesses with disarming honesty to the AP. An affection that, apparently, is mutual.

Everyday life between fame and simplicity

If Jorge dares to leave the house without him, the placid Osito draws the only weapon at his disposal and starts barking in protest, something he almost never does otherwise. While the World Cup machine continues inexorably between goals, predictions and cameras, the requests for photos on the street show no sign of decreasing.

A daily mission

But Jorge and Osito don’t let it go to their heads. Every morning they get on their bicycle and immerse themselves again in the traffic of Mexico City. There are deliveries to finish and, above all, bad days to make up for dozens of strangers who just need to see them go by to regain their good mood. For Rangel, apart from the limelight, this is the only aspect that really matters.