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Spanish Supreme Court Rejects Messi’s Tax Conviction Appeal

The Spanish Supreme Court has rejected Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi’s appeal against his conviction for tax evasion. Lionel Messi was sentenced to 21 months in … Continue reading Spanish Supreme Court Rejects Messi’s Tax Conviction Appeal


The Spanish Supreme Court has rejected Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi’s appeal against his conviction for tax evasion.

Lionel Messi was sentenced to 21 months in jail in 2016 for failing to pay €4.1million in taxes on image rights.

In 2007, 2008 and 2009, he was also given a €2million fine. His father, Jorge Messi, was handed the same prison sentence and a smaller fine of close to €1.7million.

Although the 29-year-old is unlikely to serve time behind bars because he has no prior convictions, he appealed what his lawyers called a “symbolic” conviction, taking the case to a higher court.

The appeal has been knocked back, while his fine now stands at €1.3million and Jorge’s has been cut to €1.3million, while his sentence has been reduced from 21 months to 15 months due to his cooperation in the case.

His father made a voluntary corrective €5million payment in August 2013 on behalf of the Messis’, a figure that was equal to the amount of tax allegedly unpaid, plus interest.

The tribunal ruled that Lionel Messi knew his obligations and knowingly defrauded the government, stating that “avoidable ignorance” does not exclude him from responsibility.