Superbowl: The cheerleader who certainly knows how to put on a show

Having made her entrance clad head-to-toe in a shimmering gold cloak, riding a gilded chariot drawn by legions of gladiators, the 53-year-old launched into a 12-minute spectacular featuring a string of her greatest hits including "Vogue", "Music" and "Express Yourself", as well as her new single, "Gimme All Your Luvin".

She abandoned the more outrageous antics of previous performances, but the headline-grabbing mantle was taken up by London-born rapper M.I.A., who performed backing vocals with US R&B star Nicki Minaj and sparked controversy by raising her middle finger at the cameras.

An estimated 111 million viewers across America tuned into watch the game. Patriots fans, below, were in high spirits, only to see their team lose 21-17, after a dramatic last-minute touchdown from the Giants. The New York team's quarterback Eli Manning, bottom, was crowned the game's Most Valuable Player after leading his team to victory.