Next to Paraguay’s football pup Dexter recently, Joaquín, a rescued dog from Paraguay, has gone viral after posing in the Paraguay national football team shirt, earning the affectionate nickname “World Cup boyfriend”. Many people initially believed he had two noses, but Joaquín was actually born with a cleft snout, a congenital condition similar to cleft lip in humans.
Huellitas Paraguay, a charity foundation, rescued him from abandonment and abuse. Since then, Joaquín has become a social media sensation and symbol of resilience, compassion, and animal welfare. Joaquin’s titel references the FIFA World Cup 2010, when Paraguayan media personality Larissa Riquelme became internationally known as “The World Cup girlfriend” after supporting the national team during the tournament.
Mission of Huellitas Paraguay
About Joaquín’s story, “In reality Joaquín is not a rescued dog, he is my dog, he is my son. Before starting Huellitas Paraguay, he was the one that inspire me to keep helping.”, said Nadia Vargas, the founder of Huellitas Paraguay. Furthermore, she recalled how he stayed with her, “I was actually looking for a home for him because nobody wanted to adopt him due to his nose and his little eye. I had to deliver him to a family on Sunday, but I could not. He stayed with me.”
From that moment, Joaquín became the emotional core of the foundation “We always say that he is our boss, that he is the one who runs everything.” She joked. In addition, his congenital condition became part of the Huellitas mission to educate “He has a cleft snout, just as children are also born with a cleft lip, he was born that way too…Whenever we walk down the street, people look at him strangely, they say he has two noses. I try to educate them and say: No, he has this condition and he is a perfectly normal dog.”
Inspiring awareness through education
Beyond his online popularity, Joaquín has become a symbol of awareness and inclusion. He participates in school talks and community activities organised by Huellitas Paraguay. He promotes awareness about animal abuse and responsible pet ownership.
His story often inspires both students and teachers, demonstrating how compassion and resilience can emerge from vulnerable beginnings. According to Huellitas Paraguay, “He is a fighter, loving, noble, and always willing to accompany.”
The impact of the “World Cup Boyfriend”
The nickname “World Cup boyfriend” is more than a viral joke. It reflects how Joaquín has become part of Paraguay’s football culture, combining national pride with a message of compassion towards animals.
The title references the FIFA World Cup 2010, when Paraguayan media personality Larissa Riquelme became internationally known as “The World Cup girlfriend” after supporting the national team during the tournament. Years later, the playful nickname has been reimagined through Joaquín, whose image in the Paraguay shirt captured public attention.
Riquelme herself acknowledged Joaquín and expressed her approval of the nickname. When asked whether she accepted him as the “World Cup boyfriend”, she replied: “Of course, I want to meet him now.”
From abandoned dog to national symbol
Joaquín’s journey from abandoned dog to national symbol demonstrates how stories of resilience and compassion can inspire an entire community. His popularity continues to highlight the work of Huellitas Paraguay and the importance of protecting animals while embracing empathy.
For more information about Joaquín and the organisation’s work, Huellitas Paraguay on Instagram regularly shares updates.
