FIFA World Cup mascots - The best and worst mascots from previous World Cups

Naranjito (1982, Spain)

Spain introduced a change from the previous World Cups that had either animals or humans as their mascots by designing Naranjito, which was an orange, a fruit grown in large proportions in the country.

Naranjito wore Spain’s football kit while holding a ball, beaming a big smile to describe a change in scenery in the nation after the end of dictatorship and exemplifying an optimism in the future.

Pique (1986, Mexico)

Hosting their second World Cup, Mexico wanted a completely different mascot from their previous one, Juanito, and thereby created Pique, a green jalapeno pepper which had a moustache and a sombrero.

The name Pique came from ‘picante’, Spanish for spicy peppers, a taste very characteristic of the Mexican cuisine, while a football next to it showed its passion for the game.