TMZ Sports - Page 50

Neymar has just become the highest paid soccer player in the world -- signing a deal with Paris Saint-Germain worth over $265 MILLION!!

That's more than Cristiano Ronaldo. More than Messi. More than Pogba.

The 25-year-old Brazilian superstar will reportedly rake in around $657,000 per week with PSG over the course of 5 years ... totaling more than $265 mil in wages and bonuses.

And that doesn't even include endorsements.

PSG really, REALLY wanted him -- and paid a record $263 mil transfer fee to Barcelona just to buy him out of his contract with them.

It's the highest transfer fee ever -- smashing the previous record held by Manchester United, which paid a $117 million transfer fee for Pogba from Juventus.

In total -- salary plus transfer fee -- PSG came out of pocket roughly $528 million to get Neymar.

FYI, Neymar is the only soccer athlete Michael Jordan has signed to his Jordan Brand label -- apparently, he knows what he's doing.

Congrats!

Shannon Briggs says he's heartbroken Wladimir Klitschko hung up his gloves ... 'cause he never got the chance to KICK THE LIVING HELL OUT OF HIM.

Briggs famously tormented Klitschko for years ... popping up on him in public places and trying to get Wlad to meet him in the ring (the paddle boarding ambush is still classic).

Klitschko just announced he's retiring, and when TMZ Sports talked with Briggs he told us he wishes the all-time great well -- that doesn't change the fact that he would've KNOCKED HIM OUT.

"I would've knocked him out cold! I'm sad, I'm sad he's gone, champ!"

Some things never change.

Forget the Clippers ... Ben Simmons turned PHILLY into Lob City today -- with the help of a stud 12-year-old hooper diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

The 76ers superstar hit the gym Thursday to surprise Tyler Osowski -- who just underwent a major operation in June to help him walk better.

Simmons had heard Tyler was a HUUUGE Sixers fan -- and loves Simmons -- so, he worked with FOX 29's Dawn Timmeney to set up a shootaround.

What ensued was pretty great -- the two bro'd down on the court and Tyler even dished up a pretty sweet alley-oop!

Colin Kaepernick's staying quiet. His girlfriend? Not so much.

Nessa -- the famous radio host -- posted a photo of 2 guys who have made all sorts of news by talking about her boyfriend -- Ravens legend Ray Lewis and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.

The pic essentially compares the two to characters from "Django Unchained" -- Samuel L. Jackson's slave-master-loving character and Leonardo DiCaprio's racist master role.

And made sure to @RayLewis.

Clearly, she's not happy with Ray's comments -- in which he advised Colin to keep his mouth shut about his off-the-field activities ... including social activism.

Bisciotti is reportedly resisting an effort to sign Kaepernick -- though the team has disputed those reports.

Still, Nessa ain't happy about it. Guessing Kaep feels the same way.

Tom Brady turns 40 today -- and the fans in Boston let him know it with a screaming rendition of "Happy Birthday."

As Tom took the field at New England Patriots training camp Thursday morning, dozens of fans decked out in Pats gear -- some holding "Happy Birthday" signs -- belted out the song.

Tom smiled and waved.

The team also brought out a bunch of goats for the G.O.A.T. -- they're really blowing this thing out.

His wife, Gisele, also posted a HBD message for him -- saying he makes 40 look like 20. She's right.

With Wladimir Klitschko calling it quits, there's another fighter who wants to step up and take on boxing superstar Anthony Joshua -- Stipe Miocic!

Wlad and Joshua had been working on a rematch after that great fight back in April -- but WK announced his retirement early Thursday morning ... so those plans are off.

But Stipe wants to take his place ... and with Conor McGregor fighting Floyd Mayweather, he clearly thinks there's a chance.

"Looks like your schedule is wide open," Stipe told Joshua on social media ... "No excuses, let's dance! #BaddestManOnThePlanet."

Stipe -- the UFC heavyweight champ -- is 6'4" and 240 lbs.

Joshua -- the unified heavyweight champ -- is 6'6" and 250 lbs.

How's this for a good day: MMA fighter kicks a dude in the head ... wins UFC contract ... gets a brand new nickname from Snoop Dogg.

That actually HAPPENED to Julian Marquez on Tuesday -- the greatest day of his life.

TMZ Sports spoke with Marquez after his brutal victory on "Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series" ... and he told us how Snoop personally invited him to kick it after the fight.

There's just one problem ... Marquez already has a pretty solid nickname, "The Cuban Missile Crisis" (badass, right?).

So, which nickname do you keep moving forward -- the old one or the Snoop one?

Decisions, decisions ...

Faye Resnick -- the best friend of the woman O.J. Simpson killed -- seems unhinged over his impending release from prison.

We got Nicole Brown Simpson's best friend in WeHo Wednesday leaving Catch restaurant and she made it clear ... she has NOTHING to say about O.J.'s entrance back into society.

Faye's got reason to fear Simpson. During his murder trial O.J. and his legal team tried to blame Nicole's death on her ... falsely suggesting a Colombian drug cartel may have slit Nicole's throat because Faye didn't pay a cocaine bill.

Resnick has called Simpson "pathological" and we're told she still fears him.

He's unemployed at the moment, but think Nerlens Noel misses playing for the Philadelphia 76ers??

"NAH."

It was that simple when we asked the 23-year-old about his old squad outside of Warwick nightclub in L.A. last night, where he was partying until 2 in the morning.

Noel's story is bizarre ... he was the 6th overall pick in the '13 NBA Draft -- and after bouncing from the 76ers to the Mavs, he's currently a free agent.

After watching the clip, seems a Philly reunion is out of the question.

Oscar Pistorius was transported from his prison cell to a hospital in South Africa early Thursday morning after reportedly complaining of chest pain -- but officials now say he's okay.

The disgraced Olympian is serving time at Atteridgeville prison for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.

Prison officials have told the media, "We can state that offender Oscar Pistorius was taken to an outside hospital facility this morning for a medical examination, and is expected back in the facility later today.”

It's just a matter of time before Ronda Rousey officially signs with Vince McMahon -- so says WWE legend, Jim Ross , who says it's a "match made in heaven."

"Oh, she's gonna be a big star," the WWE Hall of Famer told us at LAX ... "It's inevitable. I see her in a WrestleMania someday."

Rousey's been a huge pro wrestling fan for years -- and there have been rumors that she could follow in the footsteps of guys like Ken Shamrock and make the transition from the UFC to WWE.

Ross thinks that's 100% the right move.

Conor McGregor put in some violent work Tuesday night -- going "12 hard rounds" with boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi ... and left some marks in the process.

The two got in the ring in Vegas for a full speed workout session to prep for the August 26 superfight with Floyd Mayweather -- and the former WBA welterweight champ tells TMZ Sports, "We both gave each other really good work."

Malignaggi says McGregor been making steady improvements in the ring since the last time they fought 12 days before ... and says he's landing real shots. You can tell by Paulie's face.

As for Conor's power, Paulie says it's time for a reality check.

"Conor doesn't have bad power. It's not 'Oh my god' power ... but it is respectable power."

"Every time I say this people get offended. It's like they want you to lie. It's like they want you to say he has this incredible power like I've never felt anything like it before."

"It is power to where if it hits you, it's gonna get your attention and it may even put you down if you're wearing those smaller fight gloves."

It's a 3-PEAT for Chad Johnson's daughter Cha'iel ... the 12-year-old track star just DOMINATED to win gold medal in the 800m race at the AAU Jr. Olympic Track & Field Championships for the 3rd year in a row.

Cha'iel -- who's won the competition with ease the past 2 years -- crossed the finish line Wednesday with a time of 2:13.72 ... nearly 2 whole seconds faster than the 2nd place finisher.

Mini-Ocho's not letting up, either ... she finished almost 6 seconds faster than her time 1 year ago (2:19:60).

Brendan Schaub is putting his dong on the line for Mayweather vs McGregor ... promising he'll DM the world his finest wiener pic if Conor doesn't go all 12 rounds with Floyd.

That's right -- the UFC fighter-turned-MMA analyst is so sick of fans countin' out the Irishman ... he's bettin' his manhood on McGregor's chin.

"I promise you Conor will not get knocked out," Schaub told Rob King on "The Kicker" ... "If anyone gets finished that night. It's Floyd."

King asked Brendan if he was willing to put a wager on it -- to which Schaub replied, "I will send you guys a d*ck pic if it doesn't go all 12 rounds."

A bet's a bet. No pulling out now ...

Floyd Mayweather is expecting to make more than $300 MILLION from his fight with Conor McGregor ... which would break down to more than $8 MILLION per minute in the ring.

The boxer spelled it all out for Showtime's "All Access: Mayweather v. McGregor" -- explaining why no other professional athlete in the world is more bankable.

"I mean, am I the highest-paid athlete out there? And just coming back? We not talking about no contract. We not talking about no contract for no 4 years, or no contract for no 5 years. I can do it in 36 minutes. $300 (million) or better. In 36 minutes."

Not a bad deal.

As for Conor, the UFC fighter is expecting to rake in around $100 mil for the August 26 superfight -- but it'll be largest payday an MMA fighter has ever made ... so he's not complaining either.

Justin Bieber's hockey skills are getting BETTER -- the pop star hit two penalty shots on the same ice where the Kings train and we gotta say ... the stick work is pretty good.

Bieber was playing a couple of games at the LA Kings Valley Ice Center when he was tapped to take a penalty shot in 2 different games.

He faked out the goalie -- both times -- going to his backhand to put the puck in the back of the net.