If people talked about the South Africa World Cup, many would remember Yang Yang leading China Team out of the group stage. Others might recall Iniesta's winning goal in Spain's final, while still more would remember Germany crushing Maradona's Argentina four goals to nil...
But there was one name that neither football fans nor non-fans could possibly find unfamiliar.
Paul the Octopus.
No one could have imagined that the biggest sensation of the South African World Cup would be a giant octopus named Paul Allen, who lived at the Sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany.
How famous had he become?
At the height of his popularity, an aquarium in Spain offered Paul the Octopus an astronomical transfer fee of thirty thousand euros. It was the highest transfer fee in octopus history, nearly thirty thousand times higher than that of any other octopus.
According to a plan drawn up by the local Spanish council, they even intended to make Paul the Octopus the representative of the city and use his fame to promote tourism throughout the region.
Paul the Octopus became famous around the world, driving sales of related merchandise and even making the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre where he lived famous worldwide. It became a must-visit attraction for countless tourists arriving in Germany, turning into the aquarium's cash cow.
In August after the World Cup, the British pointed out that although Paul the Octopus held German citizenship, he had been born in Britain and also possessed British citizenship. They therefore strongly promoted him as England's ambassador for its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Unfortunately, on the evening of October 25, Paul the Octopus died at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre at the age of two and a half. He ultimately failed to live until December, so after England's