Messi sentenced to 21 months in jail for tax fraud

Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, but the Barcelona star is not expected to spend any time behind bars

Leo Messi, left, in court with his father in June
Leo Messi, left, in court with his father in June

Argentina and Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud.

His father, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for defrauding Spain of €4.1 million between 2007 and 2009.

They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay used to conceal earnings from image rights.

However, they are likely to avoid jail. Under the Spanish system, prison terms under two years can be served under probation.

The Court of Catalonia on Wednesday found that the Messis had evaded tax on Lionel’s image rights, with more than €4m owed in back payments. But because the court’s sentence was less than two years and neither Messi has a criminal record, neither will be sent to prison.

Prosecutors had alleged that tax havens in Belize and Uruguay were used to conceal earnings from image rights. But Messi said he “knew nothing” about his financial affairs.