Soccer

Germany's famous Bundesliga -- one of the top soccer leagues in the world -- will resume play before the end of the month, officials say.

League officials reportedly met with top German government leaders -- including German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- to ask for the play to resume and their request was granted.

Bundesliga -- which features top players like Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze -- has been cleared to restart as early as May 15. The league is expected to announce an official restart date on Thursday.

The league -- comprised of 36 teams -- had shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still unclear what kind kind of medical screening will be instituted when the league gets up and running ... but fans will NOT be allowed to attend the games.

Most teams in the league -- including world-famous teams like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund -- only have around 9 matches left on their regular season schedule.

Germany has been praised for its handling of coronavirus. So far, there have been about 150,000 recorded cases and around 6,300 deaths.

"Frankly, I think the Olympics are in doubt next year."

That's U.S. soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe getting very real about the postponed summer games ... saying she's having a hard time seeing how the event goes on even in 2021.

"The more I think about it logistically," Rapinoe says, "just bringing everybody together like that with the absence of drug therapies or anything like that just seems difficult."

Of course, the Olympics were previously set to kick off in just a few weeks ... but the coronavirus pandemic forced officials to bump the competition to next summer.

International Olympics Committee spokespeople seem confident the event will go on then without a hitch ... but Rapinoe told CNN's David Axelrod on "The Axe Files" podcast this week she's skeptical.

"I guess we'll see," Rapinoe says. "I don't want to be in the prediction business, but we'll see."

A cancellation or even another postponement of the Olympics would likely spell the end of Rapinoe's time as an Olympian ... she's 34 years old now and retirement is on the horizon.

If it is ultimately the end ... Megan had a hell of a run, winning a gold medal for the U.S. back in 2012.

Forget sweatpants, Georgina Rodriguez is all about NO PANTS -- showing off her butt during quarantine ... and yeah, she's hot!

Yep, that's Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend -- who has a daughter with the soccer star -- doing some outdoor ironing while stuck at home in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She also happens to be a fitness-aholic (duh, she's with CR7) so, it's no surprise she's got a killer body.

"Paños al aire," she wrote ... which means, "Pants in the air."

Rodriguez and Ronaldo have been together for years -- she gave birth to their daughter, Alana, back in 2017.

Ronaldo has 3 other kids -- 10-year-old Cristiano Jr. along with 3-year-old twins Eva and Matteo.

The ultra-fit family has been working out at their Portugal home like maniacs since the pandemic began ... constantly posting pics from their top-of-the-line home gym.

There are reports Ronaldo could head back to Italy soon to rejoin his Juventus soccer team as early as May 4 ... but with everything still so uncertain, we won't believe it until we see it.

Ariana Grande, David Beckham, Kevin Durant and Aaron Rodgers have joined the All In Challenge to raise money for COVID-19 relief ... and their fans are responding in BIG numbers.

The pop star and trio of superstar athletes all got onboard in the last 24 hours with the fundraiser started by Philadelphia 76ers partner Michael Rubin. Ariana announced her fan experience Thursday ... offering dinner with her in L.A. and a hang out with her in the studio. David is hosting a 5 on 5 soccer game with VIP treatment at the new stadium where his Miami CF team will play.

Aaron is auctioning off a tour of historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay ... plus tickets to watch him in a Packers game. Bidding starts at $10k.

Kevin is offering up courtside seats to watch his Brooklyn Nets play, plus a sitdown dinner and a chance to take home his NCAA Player Of The Year Trophy.

The big-name additions are already making a huge difference ... fundraiser organizers tell us they've already raised more than $500,000 just today.

As we've reported ... tons of famous athletes and celebs -- including Drake, Kevin Hart, Justin Bieber, Meek Mill, Mark Cuban, Ryan Seacrest, Magic Johnson and Tom Brady are either raffling or auctioning off amazing packages ... and all the money is going to feed folks in need during the pandemic.

Good luck!!!

Soccer superstar Paul Pogba is keeping the competitive spirit during the coronavirus pandemic ... and his latest victim is none other than his OWN MOTHER!!!

The Manchester United stud made his mom look straight-up foolish in a hilarious clip this week ... hittin' her with a nutmeg for the ages while getting some fresh air.

"When your mum tell you she played football before 🤣🤣🤣" the French footballer captioned the vid ... while also adding a very thoughtful message:

"Love and spend time with your parents before they leave this world."

Not only is he pulling soccer tricks, Paul's also been keeping busy in the kitchen as well by making desserts like galette des rois for his mama.

Ronaldinho -- the soccer superstar accused of using a fake passport to enter Paraguay -- is finally out of jail ... but he ain't exactly home free.

The 40-year-old Brazilian was moved to house arrest Tuesday -- after spending the last month locked up in Paraguay for allegedly using a really bad fake passport.

As we previously reported, Dinho and his brother traveled to Paraguay back in March to promote a new book -- but officials say they entered the country illegally. Big problem.

And, why fake passports? The former FIFA World Cup All-Star reportedly had his Brazilian and Spanish passports confiscated in July 2019 over unpaid taxes.

Authorities raided the hotel where Ronaldinho and his bro were staying, seized the passports and threw 'em both in jail ... where they've been ever since, until Tuesday.

Bond was set at $1.6 MILLION ($800,000 each) -- which they can easily afford, considering the FORTUNES they made in contract and endorsement money over the years.

Don't feel too bad for Ronaldhino, he's been able to stay active in jail ... dominating in rec yard soccer games and reportedly winng a trophy pig for his performances!

Ronaldinho and his brother are expected to remain under the house arrest while an investigation into their alleged crimes carries on.

It's a buyer's market, and David and Victoria Beckham are taking full advantage as only filthy rich people can, expanding their portfolio with a sick Miami skyscraper home.

The famous couple reportedly dropped $24 million on the 5-bedroom condo in Miami's One Thousand Museum building -- a 62-story structure that's a marvel on its own.

The Beckhams' new pad was designed by late architect Zaha Hadid and was completed just months ago ... so it's got that uber-modern look to it, featuring big, open rooms and gorgeous views of the city and the ocean.

The 5 bedrooms will come in handy for the family of 5, and their new home also comes with its own fancy swimming pool and rooftop helipad. Let's be honest, it's a must-have item ... in case they need to get to the airport quickly and fly to one of their other luxury homes around the world.

Could you imagine being stuck in quarantine -- and all of the sudden you get get a phone call from the star of your favorite Premier League soccer team?!

That's becoming a possibility for Liverpool F.C. backers during the coronavirus pandemic ... 'cause the football squad is looking to fight social isolation with some athlete-to-fan interaction.

The team announced its efforts to help those cooped up in their homes during the COVID-19 scare ... saying the plan is to have players call up "older and more vulnerable" fans in the North Liverpool and Kirkby communities.

The LFC Connect initiative includes weekly calls, as well as postcards going out to those impacted by the outbreak.

It's important to note ... there have been 35 confirmed cases in Liverpool ... and the numbers continue to rise across the world.

English soccer star Peter Whittingham has tragically passed away after suffering head injuries from an accidental fall, his former club announced. He was only 35.

The ex-Cardiff City and Aston Villa midfielder had reportedly been hospitalized following the accident on March 7 ... and succumbed to the injuries at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Thursday.

Cardiff released a statement on the tragedy, saying, "It is with an immeasurable amount of sorrow that we must inform supporters that Peter Whittingham has passed away at the age of 35."

"We are heartbroken. The news of Peter’s sudden and untimely passing has shaken us to our very foundation."

Whittingham is survived by his wife, Amanda, and their young son.

"They are at the forefront of our thoughts and, on their behalf, we ask for their privacy to be respected at this unfathomably cruel and difficult time," Cardiff said.

The club praised Whittingham for being a family man with a sense of humor ... as well as a true professional on the field.

"The loss of Peter will be painfully felt by our city, supporters and indeed all who ever had the pleasure of knowing him. We love you Pete and your memory will eternally stay with us."

Whittingham played for Villa from 2003-07 before spending his next 11 seasons with Cardiff ... where he became the 9th-leading scorer in the club's history.

Life behind bars ain't too bad for Ronaldinho ... the soccer legend joined a prison league futbol tournament last week -- and reportedly won a pig for dominating the games!!

If ya missed it ... the 39-year-old Brazilian has been locked away in Paraguay prison after officials say he entered the country using a fake passport.

Dinho has been at the facility for about two weeks ... but he's clearly making the most of it -- because the dude joined a soccer league with other inmates and CRUSHED it.

Videos and pictures surfaced of the former Ballon d'Or winner out on the asphalt with the guys ... and according to witnesses, his teams had no trouble piling up wins.

In fact, reports say Ronaldinho and his squad not only got a cool trophy for all the Ws ... they even earned a prized pig for the championship!!

It's a pretty cool moment for Ronaldinho, considering the circumstances ... but it doesn't seem anyone's too worried about a lengthy stay behind bars for the former soccer superstar.

His attorneys have reportedly called the whole passport incident a misunderstanding ... saying Ronaldinho didn't know the documents were fake.