Exclusive images from World Cup host nation Brazil, where
more unexplained symbols and messages have appeared at
various landmarks

Rio de Janeiro was the scene of yet
more mysterious signs and symbols
this week as a series of unidentified
messages were spotted around the
World Cup host city.
On Monday, the usually tranquil
Leme neighborhood was the talk of
Rio as the mountainside that
overlooks the beach was illuminated with the giant message: #
WINNERTAKESEARTH
Mountain mystery | A message above the beach volleyball at
Leme
The following day it was the turn of the internationally-famous
Copacabana neighbourhood, which saw its central region
plastered with the same hashtagged text.
Guests at the luxurious city hotel, the Copacabana Palace, left
their rooms to get a better view of the bizarre transmission.
Light show | A symbol on the side of Santa Maria hill
The hill of Santa Marta, close to the iconic Christ the Redeemer
statue, was struck on Wednesday. It featured a giant circle with a
football shape carved into the centre of the image. Fans driving
to the Maracana to watch Flamengo play Botafogo stopped their
cars to take photos.
"I have lived in Rio since the day I was born and have never
seen anything like it. I'm a little scared because I do not know
what this symbol means," said Carlos Perez, a Rio resident.
On Sunday, a mysterious hologram of the same symbol was
projected on Rio's Sugarloaf mountain, while London sports
venue Hackney Marshes was gouged by a three-metre football
the following day. The digital billboards of New York City’s
Times Square have also displayed similar messages.
Rio grand | The city's apartments are overshadowed by the
symbol

Mysterious messages at Times Square
Exclusive images from the commercial hub of New York
City, which was the scene of more unexplained symbols,
believed to be connected to football
Oct 24, 2013 4:30:00 PM
EXTRA TIME
Times Square became the third
venue to be struck by mysterious
signs and symbols this week when a
series of unidentified images
flashed on the commercial
intersection's digital billboards.
Witnesses reported seeing a
sequence of blinking lights and streaming codes on Tuesday
night that left New Yorkers scratching their heads at just what
they were watching.
Strange symbols | The mysterious shapes stand out next to the
advertisements
Alongside advertising for animated film characters and
basketball stars, an electronic billboard suddenly revealed the
illuminated image of a giant circle with a football shape carved
into the centre. The hashtag #WINNERTAKESEARTH soon
followed.
"The images reminded me of a science-fiction movie," said
bemused Dutch tourist Michael Stupp from Rotterdam.
Andrea Costa from Mexico added: "At first I thought it had
something to do with computers because of the glitches and the
codes, but then when you see the football sign and the hashtag
you start opening up your mind and asking who is out there
trying to challenge us."
Sign of the Times | Baffled onlookers watch the cryptic
messages in New York
On Sunday a mysterious hologram of the same symbol was
projected on Rio de Janeiro's Sugarloaf mountain, while London
sports venue Hackney Marshes was gouged by a three-metre
football the following day. The hashtag #
WINNERTAKESEARTH was spotted at all three venues.

Mysterious messages at Hackney Marshes
Exclusive images from the famous venue for UK grassroots
football, which was the scene of an invasion of unexplained
symbols on Monday
EXTRA TIME
Hackney Marshes became the latest
venue to be struck by mysterious
signs and symbols on Monday when
a three-metre football gouged one
of the 82 pitches at the London-
based grassland.
Witnesses at London's amateur
league football hub reported seeing
a giant circle formation featuring a
ball in the centre of the design – the same emblem that was seen
as a hologram on Rio de Janeiro's Sugarloaf mountain on
Sunday.
Mystery | Football fans can not only visit the formation but can
find thousands of balls there
Even more curiously, the mysterious circle was broken by the
3m football-like object that left a gaping hole in the ground –
resembling the effect of an aerial crash landing.
Dog walkers also reported smoke emanating from the sight for
hours on Monday morning before the area was later cordoned
off.
Bizarre | The same symbol was seen as a hologram on Sugarloaf
mountain on Sunday
Two thousand smaller footballs - each containing the same
cryptic logo – were scattered around the football pitches of
Hackney Marshes.
Locals were left stunned by the sightings. Retired builder
Michael Pimmer, 74, was walking his dog at sunrise. “I have
been visiting these fields for many years, but I have never been
left awestruck like I was today. It was truly bizarre."

Mysterious messages on Sugarloaf mountain
Exclusive images of the bizarre illumination at the iconic
landmark in World Cup host city Rio de Janeiro on Sunday,
which appears to be connected to football
Oct 21, 2013 10:30:00 PM
EXTRA TIME
Residents of Rio de Janeiro were
left bemused by the appearance of a
series of unidentified signs and
circles on the face of Sugarloaf
Mountain on Sunday night.
As darkness fell, witnesses reported
seeing a green laser beam fired
from an unknown location onto the 396m mountainside
overseeing the Atlantic Ocean.
The beam gradually enlarged to form scrambled symbols which
gave the impression of an encrypted message. "What does it all
mean?" asked one stunned bystander. "Why is this happening?"
Mountain mystery | Rio residents were left baffled by the
illuminated messages on Sunday
The encoded letters increased in brightness before settling into
the shape of a gigantic logo. It resembled a giant circle with a
football shape carved into the centre of the image. Rio is due to
stage key matches and the World Cup final next summer but it is
not yet clear what connection this unexplained incident has to the
sport.
The mysterious hologram remained illuminated on Sugarloaf for
more than two hours before finally fading, at which point
wording appeared clearly stating: #winnertakesearth.
The unusual scene also prompted passing drivers to reduce their
speed and residents to flock to the edge of the oceanic
Guanabara Bay. It was not long before the discussion spread to
Twitter where grainy photographs were posted.
Maria Clara Rocha, 27, said: "I have lived in Rio all my life and
I have never seen anything like it. It was very eerie and spooky.
I really want to know what this all means."

Mysterious messages at Hackney Marshes
Exclusive images from the famous venue for UK grassroots
football, which was the scene of an invasion of unexplained
symbols on Monday
EXTRA TIME
Hackney Marshes became the latest
venue to be struck by mysterious
signs and symbols on Monday when
a three-metre football gouged one
of the 82 pitches at the London-
based grassland.
Witnesses at London's amateur
league football hub reported seeing
a giant circle formation featuring a
ball in the centre of the design – the same emblem that was seen
as a hologram on Rio de Janeiro's Sugarloaf mountain on
Sunday.
Mystery | Football fans can not only visit the formation but can
find thousands of balls there
Even more curiously, the mysterious circle was broken by the
3m football-like object that left a gaping hole in the ground –
resembling the effect of an aerial crash landing.
Dog walkers also reported smoke emanating from the sight for
hours on Monday morning before the area was later cordoned
off.
Bizarre | The same symbol was seen as a hologram on Sugarloaf
mountain on Sunday
Two thousand smaller footballs - each containing the same
cryptic logo – were scattered around the football pitches of
Hackney Marshes.
Locals were left stunned by the sightings. Retired builder
Michael Pimmer, 74, was walking his dog at sunrise. “I have
been visiting these fields for many years, but I have never been
left awestruck like I was today. It was truly bizarre."