Soccer

Shahdon Winchester -- international soccer star from Trinidad and Tobago -- died on Thursday at the age of 27 ... after the car he was riding in crashed and caught fire.

Winchester -- a soccer vet who made his international debut in 2010 (he has 23 international caps) -- died alongside a highway in Trinidad on Thursday morning.

The soccer star was reportedly riding with his girlfriend and 2 other men when the car crashed and became engulfed in flames ... killing all 4 passengers.

Firefighters responded to the scene ... but none of the passengers could be saved.

Great news for Hope Solo ... the soccer superstar announced she's pregnant with twins --more than a year after she almost died during a tragic miscarriage.

"Miniature soccer team on the way," Solo announced while cohosting "BeIN Sports USA" with George D. Metellus ... "One boy and one girl."

Solo is married to ex-NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens.

Earlier this year, Solo revealed her struggled with fertility to Elle Magazine -- explaining how she had become pregnant in early 2018 ... but things did not go as planned.

A week after learning she had miscarried twins, Solo felt sick and in pain -- and was told one was ectopic (which means the pregnancy happens outside the uterus).

Solo says she needed surgery to remove her fallopian tube and was told she was "hours from dying."

38-year-old Hope told Elle she began IVF treatment soon after -- and now she's preggo again!

No word on when the babies are due -- but Solo joked that when they're born, they could be the next big U.S. soccer stars.

Solo is the greatest female goalkeeper in Team USA soccer history -- and famously won the Golden Glove (given to the best goalkeeper) for the 2011 and 2015 World Cup.

You'd think international soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be a LITTLE upset that vandals keep targeting his statue in Sweden ... but it seems the guy couldn't care less.

The massive statue of the Swedish-born star -- located outside of the soccer stadium in Malmo -- has been defaced multiple times since it was installed back in October.

It's been set on fire, sprayed with paint, someone hung a toilet seat from the arm, a noose around the neck ... and just a few days ago, someone used a saw to try and cut off his feet!!

So, when we saw Zlatan leaving Delilah in West Hollywood over the weekend, we asked how he felt about the damage to his beloved statue.

"I didn't see it," Zlatan told TMZ Sports ... a shocking reaction considering the constant attacks have been covered by every major media outlet in the world from CNN to ESPN, the BBC and more.

In fact, police in Malmo have told reporters they're actively investigating the attacks.

So, why is Zlatan's statue being targeted?

The short answer is Malmo supporters are pissed at Ibra for buying an ownership stake in another Swedish pro team, Hammarby -- which operates out of Stockholm.

Angry Malmo fans feel Zlatan betrayed their team -- since he started his career in Malmo. Some critics have even referred to the star as "Judas" and spray-painted the name on the door of a property he owns.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still happily unmarried ... despite reports he secretly wife'd up his longtime girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, during a recent trip to Morocco.

TMZ Sports spoke with CR7's team which confirms the reports are FALSE -- "He hasn't gotten married."

The rumors all stemmed from a report out of Italy, where 34-year-old Ronaldo plays soccer for FC Juventus.

Novela 2000 cited a "source" that claimed Ronaldo and Georgina got hitched earlier this summer in a "low key ceremony." The report also claimed Ronaldo has since changed his will to include 25-year-old Georgina.

But, alas, it's all BS.

Ronaldo and Georgina have been dating for years and it seems like marriage is just a matter of time. Just last year there were huge engagement rumors after Georgina flashed a massive diamond ring at a Portugal game in Russia. But, she later told media it was NOT an engagement ring.

Ex-soccer star Sergio Contreras -- aka Koke -- was arrested in Spain on Tuesday as part of a massive drug raid ... and cops say they recovered a TON of hashish.

Literally, a metric TON.

36-year-old Contreras is pretty famous in Europe -- he made a fortune playing for big teams like the Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille and the famous Greek team Aris Thessaloniki.

But, ever since his pro career ended in 2016, cops say he's been RUNNING a major drug ring out of Southern Spain.

On Tuesday, cops launched a multi-city raid ... nabbing 20 and seizing nearly $800,000 in hash, which is made from the resin of the cannabis plant.

Cops also recovered a stash of guns -- including pistols and rifles.

A source told the Associated Free Press that Contreras is the "head of the organization."

Contreras was taken into custody and is currently being held in Malaga, an upscale beach community.

"You wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan."

Soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic's stint with the L.A. Galaxy has come to an end ... and in true Zlatan fashion, the 38-year-old left with an epic message for his former organization and its fans!!

"I came, I saw, I conquered. Thank you @lagalaxy for making me feel alive again," Zlatan tweeted. "To the Galaxy fans - you wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome."

"The story continues...Now go back to watch baseball"

Ibrahimovic finished with 52 goals, 17 assists and 1 crotch grab in his 2 seasons with the Galaxy.

Zlatan and the Galaxy mutually agreed to part ways earlier Wednesday ... and the Galaxy thanked him for essentially wrecking the MLS for 2 seasons.

"Since his arrival in 2018, Zlatan has positively influenced the sport of soccer in Los Angeles," team prez Chris Klein said in a statement.

"We are grateful for his work ethic and passion. We thank Zlatan for his professionalism and immeasurable impact on the Los Angeles community and the soccer community in North America as a whole."

Up next?? Probably a return to Europe.

Farewell, new friend ... and thanks for the soundbites.

Alex Morgan truly is a superhero ... the USA soccer superstar says she's still planning to play in the 2020 Olympics -- just months after she has her baby!!!

The 30-year-old striker announced last month she's having a baby girl with her husband, LA Galaxy stud Servando Carrasco ... and the due date is April 2020.

Of course, next year's summer Olympics are scheduled to kick off in Tokyo just weeks after that ... with opening ceremonies slated for July 24.

For all you non-math whizzes out there ... that's just about 3 months!!!

But, in an interview with USA TODAY Sports earlier this week ... Morgan says she's gunning to get back on the pitch with her American teammates despite that tiny time frame.

"After having a healthy baby, I want to get back with the national team and look forward to playing in Tokyo," Morgan said.

It's not exactly unprecedented ... her fellow Team USA squadmate, Sydney Leroux, returned to the field in September for her NWSL team just 3 months after she had her baby earlier this year.

In other sports, it's been done too ... remember, Mackenzie Dern straight-up fought in the UFC just 4 months after she gave birth!!

Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbed a huge handful of his junk and aimed it right at an LAFC fan who was taunting him ... and the whole scene was captured on video!!!

The soccer star and his LA Galaxy squad had just taken a crushing loss to LAFC on Thursday night ... when a fan decided to showboat toward Zlatan on his way to the locker room.

You can see in the video ... the LAFC ride-or-die makes some throat-slashing signs and appears to make a groin choppin' gesture toward the 38-year-old as well.

That's when Ibrahimovic responded by getting a grip of his franks and beans ... and giving a head nod to the fan!!!

Zlatan was asked about the incident after the game, and he downplayed it, making a joke by saying, "How many fans came? 30,000?"

"That was like a training for me. This stadium is too small for me ... I'm used to playing in front of 80,000 people. Come to Inter Milan where 85,000 are whistling at you."

As for if he was irritated by the fans, Zlatan said, "No, no, no. I enjoy it! They give me adrenaline."

Zlatan also took a shot at the MLS -- saying if he doesn't come back to the league next year, NOBODY will watch the games.

"[If I stay], then MLS is good, because the whole world will watch it. If I don't stay, nobody will remember what MLS is."

Zlatan only has 2 months left on his contract, so the playoff exit this might have been his last MLS game ever.

Team USA soccer co-captain Alex Morgan is pregnant with a baby girl -- which means Team USA is probably gonna win the 2039 Women's World Cup!!!

The 30-year-old striker announced the big news Wednesday with her husband, L.A. Galaxy midfielder Servando Carrasco ... saying their baby girl is due in April 2020.

FYI, Morgan and 31-year-old Carrasco have been together for years and tied the knot on New Year's Eve back in 2014. This will be their first child together.

Obviously, the news is GREAT for their family but it means Morgan will likely put her playing career on hold for a bit. Besides her spot on Team USA, Morgan also plays for the Orlando Pride of the NWSL.

Both Alex and Servando Instagrammed about the news. Serv wrote, "Can’t wait to meet my baby girl."

Alex said, "We are already in love and we haven’t even met her yet. Newest member of the Carrasco family, coming soon."

Congrats!!!

North Korea faced off with South Korea in a historic soccer World Cup qualifier ... but nobody saw it -- 'cause North Korea didn't allow fans in the stadium OR a TV broadcast.

The meeting between the two teams on Monday -- which ended in a 0-0 tie -- was surreal ... it was reportedly the first match between the two national squads in Pyongyang EVER.

But ... North Korean officials reportedly put massive restrictions on who could view the game -- with no TV coverage, no fans in the stands and no journalists allowed.

Check out the pics ... it's straight-up eerie.

Of course, North Korea and South Korea have a tense relationship ... the two countries are technically still at war -- and reports say everything surrounding the match was strained.

According to international reports ... the South Koreans were forced to leave their cell phones at the South Korean Embassy -- and communication to and from the game was nearly impossible.

As for fans who wanted to follow the match ... their only option to watch it live consisted of brief posts about the match on FIFA and Asian Football Confederation websites.

But, North Korea will reportedly hand over a DVD of the game to South Korea this week so it can broadcast the match to its fans on tape delay at a later date.

Backlash over the blacked-out match has been strong in South Korea ... with many fans upset over the lack of coverage.

Rule #1 of celebrating a championship -- MAKE SURE YOU DON'T FALL OFF THE PARADE TRUCK.

Members of the Gaelic football team Enniskerry GAA ended up having to celebrate their  Wicklow Junior B-level football championship in the hospital over the weekend ... after several players fell off the parade bus when the railing gave out.

The video is INSANE ... members of the team were losing their minds celebrating the big win ... right when they went tumbling to the ground.

Somehow, the team says the 9 players involved are expected to make a full recovery after being transported to a nearby hospital.

"Thankfully all the lads are doing ok, 3 were sent home in the early hours of this morning, another 2 have been sent home earlier today with another expected this evening leaving 3 remaining in Vincent’s."

"No injuries are life threatening however some do require surgery," the team added.

"Thankfully all injured will pull through this and the team are under strict instructions from Barto to make sure they finally have a drink out of that cup later this evening!!"

Drink up, lads ... you're champions!! And, stay away from railings. They can no longer be trusted.

Parachuters at the Leagues Cup final on Wednesday night caused a MASSIVE freak-out in Las Vegas ... 'cause people legitimately thought they were aliens!!!

Before Cruz Azul and Tigres UANL faced off for the championship at Sam Boyd Stadium ... members of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team flew down from the sky with pyrotechnics strapped to them.

The problem? Not all Vegas residents knew their plan ... and when they saw the jumpers in the sky -- they thought Mars was attacking!!!

People were freaking out on Twitter for hours ... until UNLV officials confirmed there were no aliens -- just awesome parachuters.

When all the chaos in the sky finally settled down ... there was a pretty good game on the  pitch -- Cruz Azul beat the Tigres, 2-1, to win the Leagues Cup trophy.

By the way, the Leagues Cup is a new tourney that pits the MLS' best against Liga MX's best ... and people were fired up over the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo admits he was "embarrassed" over news coverage of allegations that he raped a woman in a Las Vegas back in 2009 ... saying he tried to hide the stories from his kids.

"I remember one day I was at home in the living room with my girlfriend watching the television to see the news and they speak about 'Cristiano Ronaldo this and that,'" Ronaldo told Piers Morgan on "Good Morning Britain."

"I listened to my kids coming down the stairs and I changed the channel because I was embarrassed."

"I just changed the channel for Cristiano Jr. not to see that they speak bad about his father about a very bad case."

"It makes me feel so bad to be honest."

Of course, Ronaldo is talking about allegations made by Kathryn Mayorga -- who claims CR7 brought her to his penthouse hotel room in June 2009 after a night of partying and forcibly raped her.

Mayorga went to police after the incident but didn't name Ronaldo in her report. She later cut a deal with Ronaldo in which she would sign a confidentiality agreement in exchange for $375k.

In 2018, Mayorga broke the terms of the deal by filing a civil lawsuit against the soccer star -- claiming he and his team bullied her into signing it in the first place. The civil case is still active.

Officials in Vegas investigated the allegations but ultimately decided NOT to bring criminal charges against Ronaldo citing lack of evidence.

Soccer superstar Neymar wasn't too bothered after his Brazil squad lost a friendly to Peru at the Coliseum in L.A. on Tuesday ... taking time for a pic with NFL star Todd Gurley!

By the way, this was the first time Brazil had lost in 17 straight games -- the last L they took was during the 2018 World Cup quarterfinals when they were defeated by Belgium.

Neymar didn't start the game but came in off the bench. Brazil hung tough for the most of the match until Peru hit net in the final minutes of the 2nd half.

This is the 5th time Peru has EVER beaten Brazil in the 46 times they've played each other!!

So, why was Neymar in such a good mood? Might have to do with the fact that officials in Brazil announced this week that the woman who accused him of rape is being prosecuted for allegedly making the allegations in an effort to blackmail the soccer star.

As for Gurley, the L.A. Rams running back had GREAT seats for the game -- sitting right behind the Brazil goal when Peru hit the winning shot.

After the game, Gurley hopped into a pretty sick car -- a Vanderhall Carmel, a 3-wheeled vehicle with a $35k starting price tag!

Gurley will return to the Coliseum on Sunday when the Rams take on the New Orleans Saints in a rematch of the 2018 NFC Championship game!

The Brazilian model who accused Neymar of rape has been hit with multiple criminal charges -- after officials say she made the whole thing up to blackmail the soccer superstar.

26-year-old Najila Trindade -- who went public with her identity in several TV interviews -- had claimed the PSG striker invited her to his hotel in May and sexually assaulted her.

Neymar vehemently denied the allegations and claimed he had several text messages PROVING he was being set up.

Cops investigated the allegations against Neymar -- and ultimately decided NOT to bring charges against him, citing lack of evidence.

But now, a new twist ... officials believe Trindade concocted an illegal, diabolical plot to falsely accuse Neymar of rape in an effort to extort the soccer superstar.

Officials in Sao Paulo have officially indicted Trindade for procedural fraud (filing a false allegation), slanderous denunciation (which is essentially defamation) and extortion.

Jarzinho Pieter -- a goalkeeper for the Curacao national soccer team -- died Monday night after suffering an apparent heart attack 24 hours before playing Haiti, officials say.

He was only 31.

Pieter was in Port-au-Prince with his Curacao teammates -- prepping to take on Haiti in Tuesday's CONCACAF Nations League game -- when officials say he became ill at the Marriott Hotel where the team was staying.

FYI -- CONCACAF stands for Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.

Haitian sports minister Edwin Charles issued a statement on social media -- saying Pieter was the "victim of a heart attack."

Pieter was 2nd string goalie for Curacao -- but the guy was a stud in the net and began his international career with Team Curacao back in 2013.

As for Curacao's scheduled match, the players had a meeting and decided to take the pitch to honor their teammate.

“The Confederation has been informed by the Curacao Football Federation that following consultation with the players, it has decided to play tomorrow’s match against Haiti in tribute to their team-mate," ... CONCACAF said.