Paul the World Cup-predicting octopus dies

Paul the octopus, which won unlikely worldwide fame correctly predicting a host of World Cup matches, has died, his owners said yesterday.

Stefan Porwoll, manager of the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre in Germany, said: "His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself."

Video: World Cup octopus dies

Paul predicted the winners of all Germany's World Cup clashes, and then of the final, by selecting one of two boxes, each loaded with a mussel food treat and marked on the outside with one of the teams.

Paul will live on in the form of a range of commercial enterprises ranging from special clothing lines to mobile phone applications. He will also feature in a documentary.