Barcelona's talismanic footballer Lionel Messi and his father were on Wednesday sentenced to 21 months in jail in three tax fraud worth 2 million euros
<img title="Lionel Messi" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/apr/12Lionel-Messi-1.jpg" alt="Lionel Messi" width="670" height="613" />Lionel Messi. Pic/AFP
However, these prison sentences are likely to be suspended as is common in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying a sentence of less than two years.
Superstar Messi, considered the world's best player, was tried alongside his father Jorge after defrauding Spain's tax authority of 4.1m euros (&pound;3.19m) from 2007-09.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Messi given 21 months in jail for tax fraud, but won't actually go to prison. Tax frauds the world over will be looking to move to Spain.
&mdash; Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/750643319273820160">July 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Earlier, the four-day trial ended on June 3 in Barcelona with both prosecutors contending that Messi&rsquo;s father, Jorge Horacio Messi, was the main person responsible for defrauding Spain's tax authority of 4.1 million euros from 2007-09. The legal representative for the tax office called for a prison sentence of 22 months each for both Messi and his father.
Lionel Messi's tax fraud trial had concluded with a public prosecutor calling for the player&rsquo;s acquittal and the government prosecutor renewing his demand for a conviction.

Barcelona's talismanic footballer Lionel Messi and his father were on Wednesday sentenced to 21 months in jail in three tax fraud worth 2 million euros

Spanish court sentences Lionel Messi to 21 months in jail for tax fraud

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Barcelona's talismanic footballer Lionel Messi and his father were on Wednesday sentenced to 21 months in jail in three tax fraud worth 2 million euros

Spanish court sentences Lionel Messi to 21 months in jail for tax fraud

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Spanish court sentences Lionel Messi to 21 months in jail for tax fraud

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