Argentina and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, Spanish media has reported.
His father, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.5m) between 2007 and 2009.
The pair also face potentially millions of euros in fines for using tax havens to conceal earnings from image rights deals.
However, both could potentially avoid having to serve time behind bars as Spanish law allows persons sentenced to terms under two years to serve probation.
The footballer and his father were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud in Wednesday’s ruling by the court in Barcelona.
During the trial, Messi claimed he “knew nothing” about the management of his financial affairs and was just “playing football”.
Lionel Messi arrives at court in Barcelona (AP)
Lionel Messi sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud
