Paul The Octopus RETIRING From Soccer Predictions (PICTURES)

Paul the Octopus, the mesmerizing mollusk whose supernatural skill at predicting World Cup outcomes earned him a global following, is set to retire from football forecasting. The soccer savant stunned fans around the world by successfully picking the outcome of eight World Cup games without getting a single prediction wrong.

The sophisticated cephalopod even earned death threats, and his pick against Germany may have doomed his own country in the quarterfinals. After so much work, Paul will cease his soccer seeing.

"He won't give any more oracle predictions - either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy," a spokesman for Paul's aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany said. Instead, "Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh." To commemorate his amazing achievement, the brilliant octopus was presented with a golden cup honoring his prognosticating prowess.

Meanwhile, Paul's powerful celebrity only continues to grow. Italians tried to claim that the eight-legged oracle was theirs, and Spain's prime minister expressed desire to protect Paul.

At two-and-a-half years old, Paul's caretakers say it is highly unlikely that the genius octopus will survive to observe Euro 2012, Germany's next opportunity to shine at the international level. Scroll down for photos of Paul's prescient predictions.

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Octopus oracle Paul chooses a mussel from a glass tank marked with a Spanish flag, next to a box with a flag of Holland, in the SeaLife Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, July 9, 2010. Paul predicts Spain will beat Holland and win the World Cup. (AP Photo/dapd, Roberto Pfeil)

Octopus oracle Paul chooses a mussel from a glass tank marked with a Spanish flag, next to a box with a flag of Holland, in the SeaLife Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, July 9, 2010. Paul predicts Spain will beat Holland and win the World Cup. (AP Photo/dapd, Roberto Pfeil)

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Comments

[lynettema]

04:13 PM on 07/14/2010

2 1/2 years old doesn't seem very old. How long do octopi live in captivity - if thet aren't eaten?

[KIVPossum]

05:57 AM on 07/16/2010

Think it depends on the type. Some only about 4 or 5 years I think.

[Efi Dabi]

10:19 AM on 07/22/2010

True.
If you have questions to Paul the octopus, check out this site:
http://www.PaulAnswer.com

[Cysquatch]

03:33 PM on 07/14/2010

So if I somehow successful eat this octopus, does his psychic abilities automatically transfer to me?

[KIVPossum]

05:57 AM on 07/16/2010

Worth a try

[PigsOnSoma]

10:36 AM on 07/14/2010

Did he actually watch a soccer game to make his choices? As silly as this might seem, the gloomy octapus is known to prefer hdtv to regular tv.

[ATomCat3]

07:28 AM on 07/14/2010

could spend hours watching this little fella munch his profetic mussels. how can a creature that looks so grotesque at the same time be so cute? :-)

enjoy your retirement paul.

[-swift]

07:00 AM on 07/14/2010

I think it's finally time to end the wrangling on Huffington Post.

Before you retire, Paul. Who is going to come out on top in the midterm elections?

[Hard2kill]

06:54 AM on 07/14/2010

who owns this scary creature?

[Sall Elene Sieng]

12:59 AM on 07/14/2010

Oh,sorry Paul...this is my expression...

[Jo Kurrent]

12:39 AM on 07/14/2010

We love you, Paul. If only you had some cousins who could ref the games, too...

[HappyBalance]

04:07 AM on 07/15/2010

Seriously.

[plzchuteme]

11:28 PM on 07/13/2010

It's a good thing that Paul is not French. He would have to work for 5 more years before he could retire.

[Paul The Octopus]

08:01 PM on 07/13/2010

Farewell folks! It has been a pleasure to serve you! Right now, I'm off to the coast of Maui where I will indulge myself with a couple of vuvuzelas! Adios!

[EvitaLuisa]

08:09 PM on 07/13/2010

come back, soon!!!!!!! I/we miss you already!! Did you leave emergency contact info with 'the folks'? HUGS!

[Motoflou]

08:20 PM on 07/13/2010

Wow, guy who made the "Paul The Octopus" account. You must be lonely. :(

[LiberalDem]

04:05 PM on 07/13/2010

Smart move by the octupus-go out with a 100% perfect record!

[jdrourke]

03:38 PM on 07/13/2010

Perhaps Paul the Octopus could help us - the US - with some of our problems now. Perhaps we should keep Paul around and simply "retire" the Vuvuzela...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/adieu-vuvuzela/

[elan4444]

01:30 AM on 07/14/2010

You know, that's not a half-bad idea. Couldn't do much worse than we've come to expect - in fact, the guy is on a serious roll!! C'mon Paul, we have aquariums here in the U.S.! I think I hear music, . . . "Love, is a many-tentacled thing. . ." OK, ok, I'll quit!

[-swift]

07:01 AM on 07/14/2010

If Paul came to the US, someone would throw him on the ice at a Red Wings game.

[HappyBalance]

04:05 AM on 07/15/2010

This is true.

[rocknrollinhoneybadger]

02:47 PM on 07/13/2010

I'd like to know more about the waste of oxygens who sent d-e-a-t-h threats to an octopus.

[learninglife]

10:37 AM on 07/13/2010

I can't believe this octopus has earned so much ink.

[Paul The Octopus]

08:04 PM on 07/13/2010

Jealous?

[angelv]

11:43 PM on 07/13/2010

ink? teehee

[-swift]

07:02 AM on 07/14/2010

double teehee

[corujoj]

04:07 AM on 07/13/2010

I heard Paul predicted Alvin Greene would win the democratic primary in S.C.