Lionel Messi handed 21 months jail term in Spain for tax fraud

Argentina and Barcelona footballer 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 €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.5m) between 2007 and 2009.

They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from image rights. However, neither man is expected to serve time in jail. Under the Spanish system, prison terms of under two years can be served under probation.

The footballer and his father were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud in Wednesday's ruling by the court in Barcelona. As well as the jail terms, Messi was fined about €2m and his father €1.5m. They made a voluntary €5m "corrective payment", equal to the alleged unpaid tax plus interest, in August 2013. The sentence can be appealed through the Spanish supreme court.

Ronaldo when he heard Messi had a jail sentence but it was suspended! pic.twitter.com/vF0A6KXuwK

— Full Time DEVILS (@FullTimeDEVILS) July 6, 2016

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.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 6, 2016

Suspended sentence for Messi!!! Thanks guys. I'm going to get audited in Spain!!

— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) July 6, 2016

Leave Messi alone. Let him be great.

— Ethan White (@EthanWhite15) July 6, 2016