A Messi vision of the future for Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo

        On Monday evening, Barcelona star Lionel Messi once again stole the show as he was voted the best player in the world for the third year in succession during the annual Fifa Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich.

The Argentina international thus followed in the footsteps of former France star Michel Platini to become only the second player in history to win the award three years in a row.

Two of the main personalities of the football world who weren't present at the ceremony at the Kongresshaus were Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, nominated for the Coach of the Year and Player of the Year awards respectively.

The duo opted not to attend as they prepare for Tuesday's Copa del Rey away match against Malaga, and was possibly watching the event unfold on television.

Neither of the two won in their respective categories, but perhaps they will have better luck in the next few years ...

 

Tweet Follow @omomani

Maxi Lopez story with AC Milan

Tweet Follow @omomani

Cantona, Sir Bobby follow Scholes out of retirement?

Fergie: Don't worry Paul - you won't be the oldest in my team by February!

 Hours before the weekend's Mancunian derby, Manchester United dropped a bombshell by revealing that manager Sir Alex Ferguson had dragged Paul Scholes out of retirement to aid his midfield crisis.

Despite a couple of shaky moments, the 37-year-old debutant looked good on the ball, and showcased the same tenacity that defined his career during his first stint.

Apparently fed up with his youthful side's anaemic performances, Ferguson is looking to bring club legends Eric Cantona and Sir Bobby Charlton's back to Old Trafford.

With Wayne Rooney's form waxing and waning with every passing game, Charlton and Cantona's eyes for goal could come in useful - they netted over 300 goals for the club between them.

Let's just hope the duo aren't suffering from persistent hip problems.

Tweet Follow @omomani

Thierry Henry's return to ignite Arsenal

 

Opposing defenders are already quaking in their boots as they dare to look at the Arsenal team sheet.

Thierry Henry standing alongside Robin van Persie. The Frenchman is the Gunners' all-time leading scorer and the Dutchman has just broken his returning team-mate's record for the most goals in a calendar year at the north London club.

Arsene Wenger hopes that his on-loan signing from the New York Red Bulls will rediscover his scoring prowess in the Gunners' front line.

From 1999 to 2007, Henry terrorised Premier League defences, scoring 174 goals in 254 appearances and winning the league's Golden Boot award four times.

While scoring goals may not be a problem for Arsenal, they are among the league's worst in goals conceded. 

Tweet Follow @omomani

Mou, CR7 & Perez cannot bear to see Barca scoop more awards

 

PEREZ: Guys, guys! We're losers, guys!

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be attending the Ballon d'Or gala on Monday in Zurich.

The official line from the club is that the pair will be too busy focusing on the Copa del Rey round of 16 second-leg against Malaga the following evening.

Zinedine Zidane and Emilio Butragueno will represent the Spanish giants at the star-studded event, which will see Ronaldo battle it out with Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Xavi for the prestigious award of best player in the world.

Mourinho will be up against Catalan counterpart Pep Guardiola, with Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson completing the shortlist for best coach.

One has to praise the Portuguese duo's professionalism to shun the glitz and the glamour, yet the pessimist in us all will wonder whether the real reason for the no-show is the unwillingness to watch Barcelona win another double.

Tweet Follow @omomani

Firmagon animation

 

FIRMAGON® is a unique hormone therapy that treats advanced prostate cancer. It is called a GnRH receptor antagonist or blocker and works by blocking the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the pituitary gland. GnRH stimulates the testes to produce testosterone. Testosterone affects the growth of the prostate gland and any cancer cells that may be present. By blocking GnRH, FIRMAGON® reduces the body's level of testosterone.
Animation by: Omar Momani and Sameer Timoshenko Aburezeq

Tweet Follow @omomani

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson drinks through the New Year

Sir Alex Ferguson was left needing a stiff drink over the New Year period after watching his Manchester United team crash to successive defeats.

The Premier League champions had the chance to go into 2012 top of the table with what appeared to be the easiest match of the season - at home to basement club Blackburn.

It was not to be. Yakubu sent the relegation candidates into a two-goal lead, before the hosts got back on level terms. Fate intervened and a late Jack Hanley effort gave Rovers an unlikely 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.

Four days later it was a similar story. A lacklustre display at the Sports Direct Arena saw Newcastle run out 3-0 winners, with Phil Jones scoring a comical own goal to compound matters. 

Tweet Follow @omomani

Liverpool's Pepe Reina hands Manchester City a tasty meal

Tweet Follow @omomani

'Duck, everybody' - Ancelotti's on the hunt

 Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the new coach of Paris Saint Germain, and is expected to go on the offensive this January.

With the Qatari Investment Authority backing the big-spending Ligue 1 side, the Italian coach may well go back to former club AC Milan for transfer targets.

Alexandre Pato had a frustrating 2011 through injuries and a dip in form, and has been linked with a move from the Giuseppe Meazza.

Will Ancelotti use PSG's financial firepower to ensnare The Duck this January?

Tweet Follow @omomani

Lampard & Terry refuse to boogie with AVB

Last month Andre Villas-Boas dismissed reports that he had asked his Chelsea players to include him in their goal celebrations as nothing more than spurious speculation.

But on Monday afternoon his players, instructed or not, did swarm to their manager on the touchline to give him a great big hug after Ramires slotted home the opening goal against Wolves.

However, while David Luiz, Ashley Cole, Ramires and Raul Meireles were all keen to boogie with their boss, stalwarts John Terry and Frank Lampard stood bemused as their team-mates crowde round their manager  

 
Tweet Follow @omomani