The Wonder Kid

2012 was all about the London Olympics, but there were also other notable incidents that stood out in the year. Here's a look at the sportspersons and moments of the year that made headlines.

By Akshay Iyer | Yahoo! India News – Tue 27 Nov, 2012 4:55 PM IST



Lionel Messi, the Argentina and Barcelona forward, has been winning awards and breaking records for fun in the last few seasons, and the 2011-12 season proved to be no different for this nimble-footed magician. Messi made UEFA Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match as Barcelona thrashed German club Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 on March 7, 2012.

He also matched José Altafini's record of 14 goals in a single Champions League season. Messi also became the first player to top-score in four successive Champions League campaigns. On March 20 2012, Messi scored three goals against Granada CF, making him FC Barcelona's leading goalscorer in official competitions, surpassing club legend César Rodríguez, who had previously held the record with 232. If these records weren't enough, Messi also went on to set the world record for most goals scored in a season during the 2011-12 season, with 73 goals. In the same season, he set the current goalscoring record in a single La Liga season, scoring 50 goals.

Flashback 2012 »

  • Narendra Modi

    Narendra Modi

    From shaking up the very foundations of the Indian government to stirring up unseemly controversies, from showing incredible courage in the face of extreme adversities to losing a reputation built over years of hard work in just a blink of an eye, from setting the electoral hustings afire with golden speeches to getting into trouble for not speaking at all, there were many 'newsmakers' in 2012 who caught the common man's imagination. Some made it for stellar reasons, others for all there is wrong with the society. Here are 12 'newsmakers' that deserve a mention. More »

  • Kutch, Gujarat

    Kutch, Gujarat

    Trying to pick twelve travel destinations in India is a little like choosing the twelve best feathers on a peacock’s train, but pick we must. The most dramatic phenomenon we’ve observed in 2012 is the rising number of Indians choosing their own country for a great holiday. At one end of the spectrum, they are hitchhiking and backpacking. At the other they are patronising the most luxurious hotels and resorts once reserved for tourists brandishing wads of foreign exchange. Keen to experiment, they are experiencing everything from scuba-diving to cycling. Many are taking to wildlife and landscape photography with a passion. Here’s our selection of the 12 most captivating Indian holiday destinations of 2012. Feel free to argue but, most importantly, get up and pack! More »

  • Tendulkar’s 100th century

    Tendulkar’s 100th century

    Like any other year, this one too had its highs and lows, moments that captured the imagination for contrasting reasons. Here's a lowdown on what happened in the world of cricket in 2012. More »

  • Coalgate scam

    Coalgate scam

    It was an eventful year in the world of finance and business, one that actively involved all three actors: the government, people and even the common man. From violent employee agitations to controversial reform proposals and volatile economic indicators, we compile the twelve defining news events of 2012. More »

  • Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan

    Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan

    There was seldom a day which passed by without these celebs hogging the limelight. Here’s what they did More »