Sports

Sean Strickland is issuing a mea culpa to Dustin Poirier ... in a wild 180 that no one saw coming, with the UFC champ eating crow for doubting whether the retired fighter was actually battling depression before his recent viral arrest.

Stricland said, "I spoke to Dustin and he is legitimately messed up by his actions," Strickland wrote on social media. "I thought he was just doing PR clean up tbh.. I guess not everyone is a POS like me lol."

He continued, "So yeah I repent and I am sorry Dustin."

Greatness recognizes greatness ... and Tom Brady was so impressed with Lionel Messi and Argentina's win over Egypt at the FIFA World Cup, he thinks it might've topped his 28-3 comeback in the Super Bowl!!

Messi and his crew were seemingly cooked down 2-0 late in the Round of 16 matchup in Atlanta on Tuesday ... but they put the ball in the back of the net in the 79th minute to finally get on the board.

Minutes later, Messi did his thing and tied it up at 2-2 ... and Enzo Fernandez secured the game-winning goal two minutes into stoppage time to put Argentina in the quarter-final and send Mohamed Salah and Co. packing.

Taylor Lewan is setting the record straight on his Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding rejection ... letting everyone know he and Will Compton aren't actually pissed for getting snubbed, 'cause couples can invite "whoever the f*** they want" to their own ceremonies.

The "Bussin' With The Boys" boys have been quite vocal after the Madison Square Garden bash ... with Compton being the first to come out and say he was "flabbergasted" by the non-invite.

Lewan followed up by wondering if the guest list was a "personal shot" ... considering a ton of seemingly random celebs were there, but he was somehow overlooked after 10 years of friendship with the groom.

Marshawn Kneeland, late Cowboys pass rusher who took his life in November, has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to doctors.

The 24-year-old pass rusher's brain was sent to the center for a posthumous examination after his tragic death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound ... and on Tuesday, doctors at Boston University's CTE Center released their findings, saying Kneeland had Stage 1 CTE.

Stage one is the first stage of the disease, characterized by short-term memory loss, mild aggression and depression, and headaches, according to experts.

Conor McGregor's last fight was more than five years ago, but Max Holloway doesn't believe in ring rust ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports he's preparing for a "dangerous" Mystic Mac at UFC 329 on Saturday.

Holloway and McGregor first met in the Octagon way back in 2013 -- a scrap Conor won via unanimous decision. Not only did Holloway think a rematch would've gotten made a lot sooner, he wasn't expecting it to happen with McGregor coming off a lengthy hiatus.

All that being said, Blessed told us he's happy to be the guy to welcome Conor back in the cage ... but that's where the pleasantries end -- 'cause he "can't wait to punch the guy in the face."

Travis Kelce was dealing with legal issues in the days before his mega-wedding to Taylor Swift ... TMZ has learned.

In new docs, obtained by TMZ, Travis and his pal Patrick Mahomes claim the shoe company 1587 Sneakers is trying to sue them in New York federal court, which picked the wrong place to file.

Travis and Patrick argue they lack sufficient ties to New York to be hauled into court there ... despite 1587 Sneakers claiming the NFL pros regularly participate in national advertising campaigns and can therefore be sued in NY.

Former USMNT star Herculez Gomez feels we are headed in a bad direction if President Trump is seemingly calling in favors to FIFA President Gianni Infantino ... because that could mean other world leaders might be inclined to do the same.

Check out the clip ... we spoke with the sports commentator on "TMZ Live" today to ask him what he made of Folarin Balogun's red card suspension ... and he's concerned to say the least.

Not only does he feel FIFA has "opened up Pandora's Box" by entertaining Trump's call to Infantino ... but he also feels this whole situation has brought the United States back to being "that ugly big brother ... that bully," which completely undermines the good work the nation has done as hosts of the World Cup and as a team on the pitch.

Kylian Mbappe just went scorched earth on Paraguayan politician Celeste Amarilla for directing disgusting and racist comments at him after a World Cup game ... calling her a "despicable woman" who is unfit to represent her country.

Amarilla targeted Mbappe following France's 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday ... taking issue with the superstar appearing to snub goalkeeper Orlando Gill's handshake attempt.

Her social media post is shockingly bad -- she called the 27-year-old a "colonized Cameroonian, desperately ​trying to pass himself off as French," a "brute" who can't write ... and said other things we're not going to share due to how far she went.

Mike Vrabel and his wife, Jen, are still moving forward together ... with the couple spotted side by side at the airport after attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's star-studded wedding.

The New England Patriots head coach and Jen were seen making their way through the Salt Lake City airport Sunday ... casually dressed and carrying their bags as they made their way through the terminal following a whirlwind wedding weekend.

Mike rocked a patterned short-sleeve shirt, white shorts, and sneakers, while Jennifer kept things comfortable in a matching light gray set and sandals.

Dianna Russini is patching things up with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt, after she was snapped getting all touchy-feely with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

The former NFL reporter for The Athletic was spotted on a Royal Caribbean Cruise with Goldschmidt -- a Shake Shack executive -- and their two sons over the July 4 weekend.

TMZ obtained photos showing Russini hanging out with her family inside the ship.

It turns out being buddies with Travis Kelce didn't guarantee an invite to the Taylor Swift wedding ... 'cause ex-NFL player Will Compton is "flabbergasted" he didn't make the cut.

The "Bussin' With the Boys" podcast host hopped on a call with Dave Portnoy on Monday's "Wake Up Barstool" ... and was asked why he wasn't at Madison Square Garden for the biggest marriage ceremony of the year.

Compton said he initially didn't think much of it when he found out he didn't score an invite ... but admitted the frustration came after he saw who DID.

10:15 AM PT -- FIFA dismissed Belgium's appeal ... stating the Royal Belgian Football Association is not a party in the proceedings, meaning it has no standing on the appeal of the decision.

The RBFA has made it clear it will continue to raise hell if Balogun ultimately suits up, which he is free to do following the decision.

The Folarin Balogun drama is far from over -- Belgium was granted a last-minute appeal after the USMNT star's one-game FIFA World Cup ban was suspended on Sunday.

Both America and Belgium were asked to submit their arguments to a FIFA appeals committee by 5 AM on Monday ... hours before the two sides are slated to play a Round of 16 matchup in Seattle, according to The Athletic.

Despite the appeal being granted, Belgium is reportedly pissed about the quick deadline ... as the initial decision was not publicized.

Dustin Poirier is dealing with the fallout from his recent legal K.O. ... revealing he lost a "big" business deal over it all -- but he wants to connect with the responding officer and make amends.

The retired UFC superstar opened up on his public intoxication arrest on the "Diary of a CEO" podcast ... and explained he started drinking because it was Father's Day and he couldn't help but think about his own pops, which made him feel depressed.

Prior to getting to the airport, Poirier said it was a great day -- he spent time with his kids, and his daughter wrote him a letter ... but once he started traveling, he had a few glasses of champagne, which turned into more booze.

England was riding high after beating Mexico in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup ... that is, until one of its players was hospitalized over a freak accident during the postgame celebration.

The big winners were soaking in the 3-2 victory at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday -- fans were singing "Wonderwall," players were hooting and hollering ... and then Jordan Henderson took a tumble over an advertisement structure and appeared to injure himself when he braced his fall.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said Henderson suffered a "quite serious" wrist ailment ... and the player was sent to a medical facility for treatment.

Amar'e Stoudemire could end up being Rabbi STAT one day ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports he's been studying so much, it's not out of the realm of possibility!!

We've talked to the former NBA star plenty of times over the years ... and during some of those interactions, he's been positioned in front of shelves of prayer books.

Considering Stoudemire converted to Judaism years ago, we asked what his goals are ... and he explained he is keeping his brain active and "always preparing for what's next."

Cristiano Ronaldo says this World Cup will be his last ... and one of soccer's greatest careers is officially entering the final stretch.

The Portuguese superstar confirmed Sunday that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final appearance on the sport's biggest stage ... ending months of speculation about whether he'd suit up for another run with his national team.

Ronaldo broke the news ahead of Portugal's Round of 16 showdown against Spain ... admitting this tournament will be his farewell, even if he's not quite ready to hang up the cleats for good. He also insisted he'll retire on his timeline -- not anyone else's.