Octopus Paul became famous during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa due to his remarkable ability to predict the outcomes of Germany’s matches.

Paul was an ordinary octopus living at the Sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, who gained popularity for his "predictions" of match results, especially those involving Germany, his home country.

How it worked:

Paul would make his prediction by choosing between two food options placed in two boxes marked with the flags of the countries competing in the match. The octopus would select a box, which was interpreted as his prediction of which team would win. As the tournament progressed, his predictions amazed many with their accuracy.

Most famous predictions:

Paul accurately predicted:

• The final winner: He correctly predicted that Spain would win the 2010 World Cup by selecting the box with the Spanish flag in the final match against the Netherlands.
• Other German victories: During the tournament, he accurately predicted several of Germany's matches, including their victory over England in the quarterfinals and over Argentina in the semifinals.

As his accurate predictions increased, Paul became something of a global celebrity. Media worldwide covered his story, and numerous theories and jokes emerged about his "supernatural ability" to predict match results.

Paul's legacy:

Octopus Paul became an icon in popular culture and an endearing figure during that World Cup. After his success in 2010, Paul continued to live at the Sea Life Aquarium, where his fame remained. Tragically, Paul died on October 26, 2010, shortly after the World Cup, at the age of two.

Despite his short life, his legacy endures, and many people still remember his predictions fondly and with a sense of humor.

After his death, other animals, like octopuses and other marine creatures, tried to follow in his footsteps at future sporting events, although none ever achieved the same level of fame as the "psychic octopus."