'Unbelievable.' That's what Lionel Messi calls winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for a fourth consecutive year. The Barcelona star didn't win a major trophy in the 2011-12 season, but the sheer number of goals he scored were too good for the voters to ignore. Cristiano Ronaldo came second and Andres Iniesta came third.
Messi said it was ‘unbelievable’ to win a fourth FIFA Player of the Year award. Getty Images
I know it’s mine: Prior to the ceremony, Messi eyes the award at a press conference. Getty Images
Messi was humble enough to stop for autographs before the announcement. Getty Images
And in walks his closest competition. No, no, not Irina Shayk, we’re talking about Cristiano Ronaldo. Getty Images
The world’s top three players await the announcement. Messi stood first, followed by Ronaldo and Iniesta. Getty Images
Former World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro and FIFA president Sepp Blatter pick out the winner’s name. No opportunity to say, “Surprise!”. Getty Images
The FIFPro team of the year. Top (L to R): Ronaldo, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves, Iker Casillas. Bottom (L to R): Radamel Falcao, Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso. Getty Images
From across the Hindu Kush, a plea for Indian help. Hamid Karzai wants New Delhi to provide artillery and military transport aircraft. It won’t cost India much—but New Delhi is worried about upsetting Pakistan, and wary of making commitments before it becomes clear which way the political wind is blowing in Kabul.
With the glut of information regarding the IPL spot fixing scandal and the three cricketers how much of it can we really trust?
This is the second time the IT industry veteran has been involved in a sex scandal.
Opinion polls show the BJP and the NDA ahead of the Congress and UPA. But it is the regional parties that are likely to make the biggest gains. NDA and UPA are post-poll creatures
India’s discourse with China has traditionally been trapped in the Mao-ist maze that defines how “friends” ought to conduct themselves. But Chinese statecraft has evolved, and India too must up its diplomatic game.
In that sense the poverty line of India is cruel. It is merciless and doesn’t allow the majority of Indians any money for shelter or access to education or healthcare or sanitation or anything else that civilised nations would consider as essential as food.
Can the party resolve internal discord and take a call on Modi’s PM candidature?
Try following a game on twitter or with friends or at the ground. At every step of the way, the spot-fixing question raises itself.
If you forget the politics and just look at the film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist doesn’t fare much better. It’s a thriller that lacks tension and suspense.
After monitoring a phone call, the investigation had virtually turned pan-India with some of the bookies based in Gujarat and Mumbai.
JM Financial will nominate Pandit as the non-executive chairman of the proposed bank. Pandit and Aiyar will have the right to purchase shares up to the amount prescribed by the RBI in this entity.
The great American dream is an integral part of America. It’s ‘great’ in that it symbolises not truth, but hope when the truth is disillusioning; it symbolises not facts, but ideals when facts are unnerving; it symbolises not likelihood, but promise when likelihood is all but bleak.
We’re tracking the Google I/O conference 2013 live – what will be unveiled?
The summary of the response in his Sreesanth’s home turf is that of incredulity. They are unwilling to believe that the pacer is guilty.
The original promise of the Dreamliner has failed to materiallise due to limitations in its flying range. Will Air India continue to pay a price for this?
The UPA ads eulogising MGNREGA as a a huge success needs to be taken with bags of salt. The scheme did make a difference, but not as is claimed.
So can we test in India and gain from the same treatment privilege that Jolie had? Yes, but there is a catch.
Live detailed updates as KKR take on Pune in a must-win game at Ranchi.
Bedi’s argument that we should focus on the legal wrong committed by the girl slapped by cops is technical, disingenuous and enabling.
There’s an endearing quality to reports that a CIA spy was arrested in Moscow: he comes across as a bumbling amateur who represents the lost Age of Innocence in the world of espionage.
The “two heads” power arrangement between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is coming apart at the seams.
The fact that it has allowed individuals named in chargesheets to continue as ministers is evidence that the Congress runs Andhra Pradesh as if it is its fiefdom, without a care for ethics in public life.
Isa Guha is not your usual female cricket presenter. Apart from being an ex-player, she’s highly educated and injects a breath of fresh air on Indian screens.
Pichai has emphasised that Google is embracing both Chrome and Android is investing in both at least for now.
