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100 Most Influential People PHOTOS

There are some interesting people on Time magazine's latest list of The 100 Most Influential People in the World. See this photo gallery for more..

Why is Oscar Pistorius on the list? Time magazine says "Even when the running establishment — convinced his blades provided an advantage — tried to confine Pistorius to the Paralympics, he kept pushing his limits and the limits of the human body. Now he's won the right to compete against the world's best. He is the definition of global inspiration".

Why Rihanna? Time magazine quotes Stella McCartney who calls Riri "one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today".

Pop star Elton John raves about Raphael Saadiq and says the album The Way I See It, is "a soul record of the highest quality".

Jeremy Lin's story “is a great lesson for kids everywhere because it debunks and defangs so many of the prejudices and stereotypes that unfairly hold children back”, the magazine write-up says. He is no overnight sensation, it adds. “In fact, he achieved success the old-fashioned way: he earned it. He worked hard and stayed humble. He lives the right way; he plays the right way.”

Who are the Anonymous hackers? The magazine says it is a “leader-less Internet hive brain” that is plundering and playing in the electronic networks of an ever shifting enemies list: Arab dictatorships, the Vatican, banking and entertainment firms, the FBI and CIA, the security firm Stratfor and even San Francisco's BART transport system.

And then there's Lionel Messi: Time quotes two-time FIFA world player of the year Mia Hamm as saying: "He makes you hold your breath every time he touches the ball. It never seems to leave his feet".

He adds: "Then you meet him, and you are reminded that he is only 5 ft. 7 in. (170 cm)... and he is an incredible teammate. He is simply one of the guys".

"Messi certainly has the potential to be remembered as the best player of all time, and I am so grateful for his approach to the game in this day and age. Clearly he plays because he loves it, and it shows every time he takes the field."

Click here for Time magazine

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