Argentina footballer Lionel Messi and his father Jorge Messi have been sentenced to 21 months in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion, a Spanish court said on Wednesday.
The court in Barcelona ruled that the 29-year-old footballer and his father were charged with three counts of tax fraud, which amounted to 4.1 million euros, Spanish newspaper Marca has reported.
Besides the prison sentence, the court also ordered the Barcelona talisman and his father to pay a fine of around 2 million euros and 1.5 million euros respectively.
However, the pair are unlikely to serve any time behind bars as, according to Spanish law, a sentence under two years can be served on probation and also since this was Messi's first offence.
Both of them can challenge the decision through the Spanish Supreme Court.
Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Barcelona in his glittering career.
