Soccer

Liziane Gutierrez has World Cup fever ... not that she needs an excuse to rock a bikini.

The Brazilian model celebrated the Samba Kings' 2-0 win over Mexico with a trip to Barra Da Tijuca ... a beach neighborhood near Rio de Janeiro. We're told Liziane was there with a friend ... doing what girlfriends do when they turn up together -- lather each other's asses with sunscreen and say thanks ... with a kiss.

Is Tekashi69 the best soccer goalie to ever live??

Well, Tekashi69 sure as hell thinks he is ... telling TMZ Sports NOBODY -- including Cristiano Ronaldo -- can score a goal on him.

And, he's being 100% serious.

We spoke with the "Gotti" rapper about his goalkeeping skills after he put on a display in a workout video earlier this week ... and Tekashi says Brazil's lucky he won't be between the posts in their World Cup match with Mexico on Monday.

In case you need a refresher, Tekashi showed he's actually a pretty solid keeper, given the fact it's a small goal and he's going up against a bunch of kids (but the footwork probably needs some help). He did, however, do decently against Italian soccer star Mario Balotelli.

Tekashi69 just upped the ante in his would-be bid to play goalie for Mexico ... 'cause the dude's proving his skills against none other than Italian soccer stud Mario Balotelli.

Tekashi posted a video Sunday showing him playing keeper against the Italian super star striker on a practice field in what we imagine is somewhere in Europe. The rapper's on tour over there right now.

As for his actual goalie skills -- which were somewhat questionable last week -- Tekashi actually gets some blocks off ... against MARIO FRIGGIN' BALOTELLI!!

Then again ... the guy's not in cleats or athletic gear, and doesn't seem to be going too hard either. We're also not sure how or why he's hanging with Tekashi.

Wayne Rooney -- one of the most famous soccer players in the world -- has made it official ... he's joining D.C. United ... and his first game in the MLS is in TWO WEEKS!!

The team announced Rooney's arrival with a dope hype video ... titling it, "#NoWayneNoGain."

The ex-Everton star is a British legend on the pitch ... and his arrival has plenty of people gassed up for American soccer -- including Rooney himself, who says, "All right D.C. Let's get to work."

But, not everyone's as charged up about the move ... with Alexi Lalas telling TMZ Sports just a month ago that there's no way Rooney's arrival will "move the needle" when it comes to MLS interest.

Tekashi69 claims to be "so deadass" good at soccer -- he thinks Mexico should put him on the roster to face Brazil in the World Cup.

And, yes ... it's all on video!

The rapper put his rainbow hair in a bun and hit the pitch to show off his skills -- from a terrible penalty shot to flopping ... to that prayer thing players do when they take the field.

It's mostly bad ... until he plays goalie.

6ix9ine says he was dope as a kid -- and doesn't look completely unathletic when he's blocking shots in this workout.

Argentina's do-or-die game against Nigeria was almost do-or-die for Diego Maradona -- the dude suffered a medical scare at the end of the World Cup game and was reportedly hospitalized in Russia.

Throughout the game, the 57-year-old legend was wildin' out in his seats at St. Petersburg Stadium -- shouting, praying and flipping people off.

But, when Argentina's Marcos Rojo scored the go-ahead goal in the 87th minute, Maradona's body couldn't handle the excitement ... and paramedics raced to treat him.

Don't worry, he's alive ... but according to ESPN's Diego Cora, he was eventually taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out.

Maradona has a history of health problems, including breathing and heart issues ... as well as a much-publicized cocaine addiction.

Argentina's next game is against France on Saturday ... hopefully, he'll be rested up and ready to go by then.

He's a living legend in Africa -- he was born there, he does a ton of charity work there ... but when it comes to the World Cup, Dikembe Mutombo says his #1 team is from ANOTHER continent.

"My #1 team is still Brazil," Mutombo told TMZ Sports on his way out of Catch in West Hollywood.

"If I have to pick a #2, I think I would go with Senegal & Nigeria. I got to cheer for my homeboys."

Mutombo was born in the Congo -- and has been a huge force in bringing his sport to Africa with "Basketball without Borders" and even built a hospital in Kinshasa through his foundation.

But, despite all that, he likes Brazil -- and says he's rooting for the boys in green and yellow to take home the trophy.

Wanna see Rod Stewart mock Argentina for sucking in the World Cup and then defend Sweden?

Great, you're gonna love this clip!

The singer -- who's a MASSIVE soccer fan -- hit up Delilah for dinner over the weekend, when he stopped to talk World Cup.

His big beef ... he thinks Sweden got screwed out of a penalty kick during the match with Germany on Saturday when Marcus Berg had a breakaway shot.

Germany's Jerome Boateng raced in and manhandled Berg -- right in the penalty box -- but somehow, no penalty was called, which really pissed off Fox Sports analyst Stuart Holden.

Clearly, Rod Stewart agrees -- saying, "I think Sweden were robbed of a penalty."

Germany ultimately got the victory -- and now Stewart thinks they've got a real shot.

George Lopez just went off on Team USA soccer -- blasting the team for not qualifying for the World Cup.

But it's clear, George's beef is less about soccer ... and more about the way he feels Latinos are being mistreated in America.

"The U.S. is trying to keep Mexico out. Meanwhile, the United States can't even qualify for the World Cup."

"They're too busy pointing f*cking fingers to be looking to see where the ball's going."

Lopez added ... "The same people that are pointing the fingers are the same people that have Latinos come to their house every day and fix their meals, and change their kids, and clean their house and cut their grass, its hypocritical."

Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar got so pissed off the pitch Friday, he cussed out some of his opponents -- insulting their mothers -- and it was broadcast for the world to see.

Neymar and Brazil were taking on Costa Rica in a World Cup Group E game in Russia -- it was very chippy and Neymar was getting VERY frustrated.

So, when a Costa Rica guy appeared to flop -- again -- Neymar let him have it ... calling the dude a "puta" and muttering something about the guy's "madre."

Translation -- the insult is akin to someone calling your mother a whore or a bitch ... you get it.

Soccer players talking trash is nothing new -- but Neymar is one of the biggest, most famous players on the planet ... it would be like watching LeBron cuss out an opponent during the NBA Finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't officially said he's engaged to baby mama Georgina Rodriguez ... but her diamond ring was doing A LOT of talking at the Portugal game Wednesday in Russia!

There's been a lot of talk CR7 proposed to her back in April -- just months after she gave birth to their daughter, Alana Martina, back in November.

Well, Wednesday at the World Cup ... Georgina flaunted the ring for everyone to see.

Wasn't hard to spot ... the diamond is the size of her knuckle.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo killed it on the pitch ... scoring the only goal to help Portugal defeat Morocco, 1-0.

They may have lost on the field, but Team Poland won in the stands!!

Check out this smokin' hot Poland fan who cheered her heart out for her squad as they took on Senegal at Spartak Stadium in Moscow on Tuesday morning.

No word on who she is ... but, for some reason, she certainly got a lot of attention from the cameras.

Senegal emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Poland.

Donald Trump is patting himself on the back this morning -- giving himself much of the credit for landing the 2026 World Cup in North America ... and admitting he got advice from the man who owns the Patriots.

It was announced this week that the United States, along with Mexico and Canada would be the joint host countries for the 2026 games.

Friday morning, Trump applauded ... himself.

"Thank you for all of the compliments on getting the World Cup to come to the U.S.A., Mexico and Canada. I worked hard on this, along with a Great Team of talented people."

He added, "We never fail, and it will be a great World Cup! A special thanks to Bob Kraft for excellent advice."

Interesting, considering Trump and Kraft -- longtime friends -- had disagreed about the way POTUS handled the NFL kneeling issue.

Hope Solo says she's still furious after her domestic violence case was dropped -- claiming the whole ordeal damaged her personal life and career ... and she wants someone to pay.

Solo was arrested back in 2014 and charged with 2 counts of assault after allegedly beating up family members at a home in Kirkland, Washington. Cops said Solo appeared wasted and she went on a tirade, cussing out officers.

The case had been dismissed back in 2015 on procedural grounds, but prosecutors appealed and the decision was reversed.

But now, officials say key witnesses stopped cooperating and prosecutors felt Solo was unlikely to attack a family member again ... so they dropped the case.

Solo has now issued a statement saying, "I always knew this day would come but I never imagined it would take nearly four years."

"Any sense of relief and gratification is matched by frustration and disbelief knowing the great lengths the City of Kirkland and all involved went to in order to further their own interests. "

"The harm caused to me, my family and my career has been immeasurable and I intend to explore any and all legal remedies to hold those with no regard for the truth, fully accountable."