U.S. Women's National Team Soccer Program Needs Big Changes ... Says Taylor Twellman
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The U.S. Women's National Team is at a fork in the road after their incredibly disappointing World Cup, according to former soccer star-turned-analyst Taylor Twellman, who tells TMZ Sports the team has to make changes, or they'll be passed up by the world.
The ex-USMNT forward -- who played professionally from 2000 to 2010 -- didn't pull his punches when analyzing the USWNT's shocking loss to Sweden in Melbourne, Australia ... and their overall performance in the world's biggest soccer tournament.
"In this World Cup, technical, tactical -- they were completely outdone!" the 43-year-old said. "It was obvious."
Twellman continued, not mincing his words ... "They didn't score a goal in 238 minutes. You are the number one nation in the world, that's inexplicable. So now this is a watershed moment."
Of course, the team, tourney-betting favorites, were looking to make history by becoming the first country to win 3 World Cups in a row. Unfortunately for American fans, that didn't happen.
After beating Vietnam 3-0 (they were around 7 goal faves), the U.S. tied both Portugal and the Netherlands, barely squeaking into the knockout round of 16, before losing to Sweden on penalty kicks. The loss dashed any hopes of a third straight W.C. ... and sent the women on a flight headed back home.
Now, for how to fix things ... Twellman has an idea of what needs to be done.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. I think top to bottom, the United States Federation on the women's side has to look at development, they have to look at the collegiate part of it, they have to look at the development within the professional leagues," Taylor said, continuing, "Are the professional leagues developing the players the right way? Is technique a huge part of it, or is it just about being bigger, faster, and stronger than the other countries? It's not gonna work anymore."
Twellman added ... "This women's World Cup has exposed the failure of the United States women to develop, and this generation I think did not carry on the mentality that winning comes first, everything else is secondary, and I think some of that criticism has been correct on that."
Of course, the mentality is precisely what U.S. soccer legend Carli Lloyd pointed out last week when she called out her former team for celebrating in the wake of another subpar performance.
"I really think it's telling that she brought it up because what we saw during the World Cup kind of backs Carli Lloyd's opinion," Twellman said.
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We also talked to Taylor, who is Apple's top soccer analyst, about Lionel Messi's amazing start with Inter Miami ... and just how far the team can go with the soccer immortal playing at this level.
"I get it, Lionel Messi and [Sergio] Busquets just showed up but this is the worst team in Major League Soccer regular season," Twellman said.
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"I think they can get to the Final but I think the semifinal and final are gonna be the two most difficult games if they get passed the quarterfinals."
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Carli Lloyd Rips USWNT For Celebrating ... After Draw In World Cup
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Carli Lloyd wasn't feeling all the smiling and dancing after the USWNT scored a draw vs. Portugal, narrowly advancing in the World Cup ... she called out her former team, saying they're fortunate they're not going home!
If you missed it, the U.S. Women's National Team faced Portugal early Tuesday morning, barely escaping with the 0-0 tie ... after Portugal's Ana Capeta's extra time kick nearly netted the game's first goal. Fortunately for the U.S., the ball deflected off the goalpost.
With the draw, the U.S. advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup ... and players were clearly happy, celebrating on the pitch.
The visual didn't sit right with Lloyd -- a 2x Olympic gold medalist and 2x World Cup winner -- who took a shot at the team after another uninspiring effort on the field.
"I have never witnessed," the 41-year-old said on FOX Soccer, "and just seeing these images for the first time at the desk – I have never witnessed something like that."
Portugal was this close 😬 pic.twitter.com/UMIZnAqyib
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023 @FOXSoccer
"There's a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family, but to be dancing, to be smiling."
Lloyd continued calling out the USWNT, crediting the goalpost with saving the game for 'Merica.
"I mean the player of that match was the post. You are lucky to not be going home right now."
USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski responded to Lloyd's comment, saying it was "insane" to question the mentality of the team.
But, Lloyd's not the only one who's questioning the USWNT ... and many fans have been none too pleased with the results on the field (3-0 win over Vietnam, draws vs. Netherlands and Portugal).
"People across America stayed up super late or woke up IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT to watch yall play a half-hearted game, at best. You put more effort into your outfits and pre and post-game dance moves and than you did the actual game," one fan commented.
Onward, together. pic.twitter.com/hWmD3PM7XK
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 1, 2023 @USWNT
"You're letting down fans that are, and have been, dedicated to this team and it's honestly so disappointing. Get your focus where it needs to be and actually play like a team and a group we can be proud of, win or lose."
The USWNT returns to the pitch on August 6 in the round of 16 as they continue their quest for a historic, third straight World Cup victory.
Do that ... and we're sure Carli Lloyd will take the photos for you!
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U.S. Women's Soccer Team Mostly Silent Amid Nat'l Anthem ... During World Cup Opener
The U.S. Women's Soccer team wasn't feelin very patriotic during their World Cup opener -- and it showed on their faces ... with mostly closed mouths during the National Anthem.
The U.S.'s debut game against Vietnam went down Friday in New Zealand, and a lot of people couldn't help but notice that most of the American players were choosing not to sing along to "The Star-Spangled Banner" while the famed music played before kickoff.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 22, 2023 @FOXSoccer
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS AT THE 2023 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME 🙌 pic.twitter.com/czqIXr5zBT
It was awkward -- the camera pans across the entire row ... and just about everyone, except for a few stray players, had their mouths shut. Some even had their arms behind their back.
The starters who opted to skip the Nat'l Anthem included ... Alex Morgan, Andi Sullivan, Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox, Trinity Rodman and Crystal Dunn, among others. A couple were notably mouthing the words ... Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey Horan.
Tiến Quân Ca 🎶
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 22, 2023 @FOXSoccer
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, VIETNAM'S NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED AT THE FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP! 🇻🇳 pic.twitter.com/gflhypkC0r
To make matters worse ... the Vietnamese players were pretty much all singing their national anthem, loudly/proudly it seems -- with hands over hearts. Ditto for just about every other international team we can see -- FOX is cutting all the national anthems on their social page.
On its face, it looks like every other country -- besides the U.S. -- is belting out their tunes.
US. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zMy5YL5J3v
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 22, 2023 @USWNT
It remains to be seen if the U.S. is going to do this every time they play another team -- the National Anthem will, in fact, be blared before each of their matches ... and since it seems like they're making a statement -- it has, no doubt, pissed off some along political lines.
The Americans won their first game, and they're playing the Netherlands on Wednesday. 👀
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USWNT Safe In New Zealand After Mass Shooting
A mass shooting broke out in New Zealand near where the U.S. women's national soccer team is gearing up for this week's World Cup ... but, thankfully, officials for the squad said all of its players and staffers are safe.
According to New Zealand police, gunshots initially rang out on Wednesday morning at a construction site in Auckland's CBD -- just a few miles from where the USWNT and other countries are slated to compete in the prestigious soccer tournament.
Police said a shooter opened fire inside the site at around 7:22 AM ... and then continued moving through the building while repeatedly discharging his gun.
BREAKING: Multiple people killed in Auckland, New Zealand mass shooting - NZHerald pic.twitter.com/COuI0A8IPl
— BNO News (@BNONews) July 19, 2023 @BNONews
Cops say when they arrived on scene, officers attempted to engage the gunman ... who had barricaded himself inside of an elevator shaft.
"Further shots were fired from the male," cops said in a statement ... "he was located deceased a short time later."
Authorities say two people -- plus the suspect -- died during the incident. Several others, they added, were injured.
The USWNT said in a statement following the tragedy that "all of our USWNT players and staff are accounted for and safe."
"Our security team is in communication with local authorities," team officials continued, "and we are proceeding with our daily schedule."
The 23.
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 10, 2023 @USWNT
We can’t wait to represent you Down Under 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mXjaRRAZ08
New Zealand officials added that while the situation was "alarming," they believe the incident "has been contained and is an isolated" one.
"We can also advise that this is not a national security risk," they said.
The World Cup is slated to kick off in Auckland on Thursday ... when New Zealand takes on Norway at Eden Park.
The USWNT, meanwhile, is scheduled to begin its group play at Eden Park on Friday against Vietnam.
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Lionel Messi I'm Coming To America!!! ... Joining Inter Miami
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12:23 PM PT -- Lionel Messi just confirmed he is, indeed, heading to America to play for Inter Miami CF.
The video of Messi confirming he will play for #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/EuJMZa85Mj
— Stefano Fusaro (@S_Fusaro) June 7, 2023 @S_Fusaro
Lionel Messi is moving across the pond ... the Argentinian soccer superstar has reportedly agreed to join MLS club Inter Miami CF in a HUGE move for the sport.
The news broke on Wednesday ... with Fabrizio Romano reporting Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players to ever to hit the pitch, has decided to join the David Beckham-owned organization this summer.
Both sides have yet to confirm the move ... but a formal announcement is expected Wednesday.
The 35-year-old's contract with PSG officially expires at the end of June ... and he reportedly had a ton of lucrative offers waiting for him as he figured out his next move.
Messi, a captain of Argentina's World Cup-winning national team, received interest from his former club, Barcelona ... and was also courted by Saudi Arabia, which was willing to shell out hundreds of millions of dollars to get him to join Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Saudi Professional League.
After winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina over France in December, Messi seems ready for his next big challenge in the States.
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Pelé Name Added To Portuguese Dictionary ... 'Out Of The Ordinary'
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé has received yet another honor four months after his passing -- his name was added to the Portuguese dictionary as an adjective with a definition only fitting for a G.O.A.T.
The three-time World Cup winner's name was added to the Michaelis, a brand of dictionaries published in Brazil, after a campaign by his foundation to include his name garnered more than 100,000 signatures.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
"That or someone who is out of the ordinary, who or who by virtue of their quality, value or superiority cannot be equaled to anything or anyone, just like Pelé," the definition reads.
"Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022), considered to be the greatest athlete of all time; exceptional, incomparable, unique."
Pelé's definition drives home the point that he was beyond exceptional at his craft while paying homage to the remarkable career he had on the pitch for Brazil.
As we reported, Pelé -- born Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- died last December at a hospital in São Paulo ... surrounded by his loved ones after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Pelé was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2021 ... and spent his final two years in and out of medical facilities, valiantly fighting the disease.
In 1958, Pelé -- widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers ever -- won his first World Cup when he was 17 ... and captured another two titles for Brazil in 1962 and 1970.
RIP
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Alexi Lalas on USWNT Arguably Greatest Team Ever ... w/ 3rd Straight World Cup
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Alexi Lalas is heaping a ton of praise (and perhaps a little pressure) on the U.S. Women's National Team as they close in on a chance to make history at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup this summer ... telling TMZ Sports they'd arguably be the greatest team of all-time if they secure a historic third straight win!
The U.S. soccer legend and great FOX Sports analyst told us the USWNT is already in rarified air with their 4 World Cup titles (1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019), but winning 3 in a row, which has never been done before, "would certainly put them in the conversation of the greatest team ever."
Lalas likes the USWNT's chances in the event -- which features 32 teams (eight more than in 2019) -- and will be held in Australia and New Zealand, but says other countries are looking to "spoil the party," so winning it all won't be an easy task.
"The rest of the world has started to catch up," Lalas said. "They are putting more resources in. That's a good thing. Competition is a good thing. You have the likes of England, France, and Germany and our friends up to the north, Canada, and the Netherlands.
"Yes, we want to win every single game," Lalas said. "Yes, we want to win more World Cups, but we want it to be competitive. I want the U.S. to win, but I might want England not to win it even more. Anybody but England winning, I'll be cool with."
Despite the competition gap closing, Lalas believes USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has enough to win it all because of stars like Alyssa Thompson, Dennis Rodman's daughter, Trinity Rodman, and Julie Ertz, who happens to be married to NFL tight end Zach Ertz.
FYI, the U.S. are slight favorites to win the whole tourney.
Tuesday marked the 100-day countdown to the world's biggest soccer tournament, airing on FOX Sports and FS1.
Let's gooooo!!!!! ⚽
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Soccer Journalist Grant Wahl Honored In New 'Ted Lasso' Episode ... 4 Months After Death
3:30 PM PT -- The Wahl family was clearly touched by the "Ted Lasso" tribute ... Grant's wife, Celine Gounder went to social media to thank the cast.
"It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe... Thank you, @jasonsudeikis, @brendanhunting, @brettgoldstein. This episode means so much to me and my family."
Soccer journalist Grant Wahl was honored with a few touching tributes in the newest episode of "Ted Lasso" -- nearly four months after he died while covering the World Cup in Qatar.
The show, which follows Ted Lasso's fictional journey from American football coach to successful European soccer coach, paid tribute to Wahl by having one of its main characters hold a copy of Grant's book, "The Beckham Experiment."
In the scene, Coach Beard -- played by star actor Brendan Hunt -- carries the Wahl-penned literature in the palm of his hand ... making sure its perfectly placed so cameras can see its full title.
Wahl's name was also included in the show's closing credits.
An incredibly well done tribute to Grant Wahl, #TedLasso. pic.twitter.com/9SM5ZMCDXN
— Kelsey Price (@KPkelsey) April 5, 2023 @KPkelsey
As you may know, Wahl and Jason Sudeikis, who plays Lasso in the show, were close friends, with each holding a connection to the Kansas City area. In fact, Sudeikis actually appeared on Wahl's podcast with Hunt before his death.
Wahl had also written a blog in October 2022 just before his passing, detailing a trip to Richmond, England -- which, of course, is the home to the show's fictional AFC Richmond squad.
Wahl said in his blog that Hunt had brought him to The Prince's Head -- the real-life bar in the show -- where they shared a beer outside.
As we reported, Wahl died in December after suffering a medical emergency inside a press box at the World Cup. His wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, later revealed a ruptured aortic aneurysm was what killed him.
He was just 49 years old.
Originally Published -- 10:28 AM PT
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Lionel Messi Argentina Fans Cause Utter Chaos At Dinner In Buenos Aires
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Hundreds of Argentina fans flooded the streets of Buenos Aires just to get a glimpse of their hero, Lionel Messi, out at dinner Monday night ... and the scene was absolute insanity!!
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar is back in his home country ahead of an international friendly against Panama later this week ... and once word spread he was with his family at the Don Julio restaurant in Palermo, he was met with a massive crowd of crazed fanatics.
The scenes in Argentina outside a restaurant where Messi was having dinner at 🇦🇷
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 21, 2023 @AlbicelesteTalk
pic.twitter.com/Hlb2q0I59Q
Videos show Messi needing a police escort just to make it out of the establishment shortly before 2 AM ... with folks screaming, reaching out and grabbing, and trying to take pictures with the footballer.
Despite the overwhelming amount of people, Messi appeared to take it pretty well ... smiling as he made his way through the sea of fans.
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 21, 2023 @AlbicelesteTalk
Of course, Messi was already beloved in Argentina ... but once he won the World Cup in December, his supporters' passion was multiplied by a billion.
Leo might be numb to all the love at this point -- after all, he also faced millions of backers who showed up to their World Cup parade.
Absolute MADNESS in Buenos Aires as Messi goes for dinner with his family 🤯🇦🇷
— 433 (@433) March 21, 2023 @433
🎥 IG/lolibrancos IG/adriiperedo IG/vickybianchi1 pic.twitter.com/5hS3742Sjr
If it wasn't already a foregone conclusion, it's safe to say Messi is the biggest sports star on the planet.
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SoFi Stadium Too Narrow For '26 World Cup Final?!?
SoFi Stadium might be coming up empty in its bid to host the World Cup finale in 2026 ... and it's all 'cause its field could be deemed too narrow for FIFA's liking.
Seriously.
According to a report from The Times, the pitch at SoFi in Los Angeles is not currently wide enough for FIFA. In fact, the outlet reports, the building would have to increase its field by up to 63 feet to meet the soccer org.'s requirement.
The stadium would have to take out some of its seats in order to make that happen -- but FIFA reportedly would have an issue with that too ... because SoFi, which seats 70,240, is already struggling to meet the 80K World Cup final minimum.
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and AT&T Stadium in Dallas are now considered the front-runners for the tourney's championship if SoFi can't figure out a way to resolve the issues.
The 2022 World Cup Final between Argentina and France was played at Lusail Stadium in Qatar -- and set a record for attendance ... with 88,966 soccer fans packing into the venue to watch Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe go toe-to-toe.
The United States, Mexico and Canada will all host the 2026 tournament.
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Model Ivana Knoll Here's Why I'm Not Joining OnlyFans ... After World Cup Fame
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Stunning model Ivana Knoll says she's been getting a ton of business offers after being dubbed the "World Cup's Hottest Fan" ... but there's one venture she's never going to explore -- OnlyFans.
The Croatian supporter joined Michael Babcock and Lucas Widman at the TMZ office to talk about her chaotic rise in fame ... and Ivana says her inbox has been flooded with potential money-making opportunities -- but she's picky about who she works with.
"I usually don't take everything that they offer me, because I like to work with brands who I like, and not many of them, because I like to present what I really like, not just what is paid to me."
"If I don't smoke, I cannot promote cigarettes."
Ivana says during the World Cup, she received about 10 calls a day and 20 emails from agencies trying to get her on OF ... but makes it clear no dollar amount would get her to do adult content.
"I was like, 'I don't know why they cannot accept that I don't want to open one,'" she added.
"I don't judge, I'm just not that kind of person. It's not for me. I tried to explain that it's not about money always, I care about reputation."
Ivana says despite the immediate money she'd make on the subscription-based platform, it would also hurt her chances with other brand deals in the future ... and that's a risk she's not willing to take.
Check out the full interview on YouTube -- we also asked Ivana about celebs sliding into her Instagram DMs during the World Cup ... and she made one shocking reveal about athletes who were competing in the tournament.
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Pele Paid $120K To Tie Shoes Before Match ... Intensified Feud W/ Adidas, Puma
Pele was paid $120K by a major sneaker company to bend down at midfield and tie his shoe before a 1970 World Cup match ... giving birth to a bitter feud between Puma and Adidas!
Pele's death has unearthed all kinds of stories about the soccer legend, who died Thursday at the age of 82, following a lengthy battle with colon cancer ... including when the greatest player ever was paid the equivalent of $1 million (in 2022 w/ inflation) to tie a Puma soccer cleat, according to Joe Pompliano, who told the story.
It all started in 1924 when Adolf and Rudolf Dassler started a shoe company, Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. The shoemaker was successful, and Jesse Owens even wore their brand during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where Owens dominated in front of Hitler, winning 4 gold medals.
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Brazilian Soccer Legend Pelé Dead At 82
But, by 1948, the brothers had a falling out and decided to go their own way ... each starting a sneaker company of their own. Adolf created Adidas and Rudolf, Puma. The brothers swore to never do business with one another.
Things changed in the late 60s when the brothers buried the hatchet and began communicating again, all in the interest of self-preservation. Adolf and Rudolf made a "Pele pact," an agreement that both companies would stay away from Pele, the biggest sports star in the world, fearing a sponsorship negotiation could bankrupt both companies.
Unfortunately for Adidas, Puma didn't exactly abide by the pact. Prior to a World Cup quarterfinal match in 1970 between Peru and Pele's Brazil, Puma paid the soccer superstar $120K to walk toward midfield just before the start of the game, bend down, and tie his Puma shoe.
Of course, Puma wanted to capture the moment on video ... so to ensure they didn't miss the moment, the shoewear company reportedly went as far as to pay the cameraman!
Brazil beat Peru ... and ended up winning the entire World Cup. It was Pele's record third.
The Pele-Puma partnership didn't come to an end with the '70 WC ... the deal was a smash success for everyone involved.
In the end, Adidas and Puma became two of the biggest shoe sellers in the world, and Pele, arguably, the greatest soccer player to ever step foot on a pitch.
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Soccer Legend Pelé Dead At 82
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Brazilian soccer legend Pelé -- arguably the greatest football player ever -- has died.
The three-time World Cup winner passed away at a hospital in Sao Paulo surrounded by loved ones following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Pelé was initially diagnosed with the disease in 2021, and had been in and out of medical facilities over the past year to help him fight it. But, sadly, his condition worsened recently ... forcing him to spend the last two months in a hospital bed.
Pelé was able to watch the 2022 World Cup in his final days ... and even penned a congratulations post on his social media page to Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe after the epic Argentina vs. France final last weekend.
He had also written an emotional note to Neymar after a huge performance for Brazil earlier in the famed tournament.
Pelé joined Brazil's national team when he was just 16 years old ... and won his first-ever World Cup at age 17 in 1958. He went on to lead Brazil to two more titles in the event, winning it all in 1962 and 1970.
He's widely regarded as one of the best goal scorers ever -- with Cristiano Ronaldo previously calling him "the greatest player in football history."
He was 82.
RIP
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Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe Demand For Memorabilia Soars ... After World Cup Final
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Fans all wanted a piece of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe memorabilia in the hours after the two soccer stars put on a show in the World Cup final ... with auction officials telling TMZ Sports the demand for their items rivaled that of Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Officials from PWCC Marketplace tell us that following the Argentina vs. France tilt on Sunday -- items associated with Messi and Mbappe became the most sought-after in their auction space.
Per a rep from the auction house, searches for Messi rose 345 percent from his normal average. Mbappe queries, meanwhile, rose 363 percent.
"Messi was searched nearly three times more than Michael Jordan, more than four times more than LeBron James, and more than five times more than Tom Brady," PWCC exec Jesse Craig said.
"Messi gilded his career with this victory, and demand for his cards clearly rose in concert with the achievement. The numbers highlight how important an exciting game is for demand in player assets."
According to a rep for the org., Messi items that were sold on Sunday following the thrilling W.C. finale finished with prices that were "an average 93 percent higher than their insurance value." As for Mbappe, the rep said the French star's items "finished an average 17 percent higher."
One of the most notable sales from the two? A 2017 Topps Messi card fetched $14,400.
PWCC has another auction involving Messi that closes Christmas night ... and it doesn't appear the demand for him -- or Mbappe -- is slowing down anytime soon.
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Pele Cancer Worsening ... Receiving Care For Kidney, Heart Issues
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Soccer legend Pele's health has taken a turn for the worse ... with local doctors announcing his cancer has advanced, and he is currently receiving "elevated care" for kidney and heart issues, according to the AP.
The 82-year-old's daughter shared an update on Tuesday ... saying the family will remain with Pele at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo over the Christmas holiday "for various reasons."
"We, as always, thank you for all the love you show us here in Brazil as well as around the world!" Kely Nascimento said on Instagram.
"Your love for him and your stories and prayers are a HUGE comfort because we know we are not alone."
Kely says the family will make the holiday extra special ... and have plans to celebrate at the hospital.
"We are going to turn this room into a Sambódromo (just kidding), we will even make caipirinhas (not kidding!!)."
"We wish everyone who celebrates a Christmas that filled with family, full of children, some fighting 🤷🏽 ♀️ and TONS of Love and Health !!"
Pele is considered to be the greatest soccer player of all time -- having won World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
There have been conflicting reports regarding his health recently ... with Kely denying last month the Brazilian hero was experiencing complications during his chemotherapy treatment.
Get well soon, Pele.
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Argentina World Cup Players Evacuated On Helicopters ... After Wild Parade
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Absolute chaos unfolded in the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the World Cup champions held their victory parade -- and things got so out of control, players had to be evacuated from their celebration via helicopter.
Argentina, fresh off defeating France in the World Cup on Sunday, were met with millions of fans on Tuesday to celebrate their win -- their first since 1986 and third overall.
Fans were understandably excited that the men's soccer team could once again call themselves world champs ... and it showed throughout the parade.
There were so many people on the streets that the festivities had to be cut short ... and Argentina players had to abandon their team buses and fly over the city instead.
We know championship celebrations can get out of hand ... but this parade was unlike anything we'd ever seen.
A video posted on social media shows the moment two fans attempted to jump onto Argentina's team bus ... which certainly posed a safety issue for the squad and others involved.
The first guy, who appeared to jump from a fixture as the bus drove by, stuck his landing. But the second guy slipped as he jumped and fell off the back of the bus and to the ground, causing the vehicle to stop.
Buenos Aires, Argentina has totally collapsed. The victory parade, if you can even call it that, has been cut short.
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) December 20, 2022 @Nicocantor1
This is the one of the few videos I’ve received that’s the safe to upload to social media. People were jumping into the bus. Just INSANE 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/OKHfDy7zOB
No word on if the dude got hurt ... and we certainly hope that's not the case, but stunts like this put into perspective just how much this World Cup championship means to Argentina fans.
Talk about a parade for the ages.