Lionel Messi Sentenced to Prison

The world's best football player, who was tried in Spain for tax evasion, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison by the court. Messi had previously been forced to pay several million euros in back taxes, amounts that, according to tax officials, should have been paid over the past ten years. Messi's father is part of his controversial tax evasion cases. According to the newspaper AS, the Barcelona court found Messi and his father guilty. Their explanations regarding the 4.1 million euro tax evasion from 2007 to 2009 were not convincing to the court. According to the law, since the sentence is less than two years, they will not go to prison but must pay a fine of 2.3 million euros. The prosecutor had requested that Messi be sentenced to 22 months in prison if his charges were proven, but AS reported that Messi would not face such a penalty because he did not commit a criminal offense. Messi himself told the judge: 'My focus has always been on football, and my expertise is playing with the ball. I trusted my father and my lawyers regarding tax matters, and they were the decision-makers.' The five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or said that the signature attributed to him relates to when he was 18 years old, and at that time, he had no information about such matters. The Argentine superstar has been accused of tax evasion multiple times, an issue that is considered normal for high-profile players in La Liga, unlike in the Bundesliga or the Premier League! In this regard, Gary Lineker, the top scorer of the 1986 World Cup and one of the most famous football commentators in the world, wrote on his social media: 'Messi will not go to prison. Instead, tax evaders need to find a way to move to Spain!' Messi was even accused during the Panama Papers case of evading taxes through maritime companies in Belize and Uruguay. His corporate activities in Panama under the name Mega Star were among the charges against him. These documents were leaked from a Panamanian law firm called Mossack Fonseca. The content of most documents included illegal methods that led to 'money laundering' for wealthy applicants. Clients ranged from presidents and high-ranking officials worldwide to sports stars from various sports and several prestigious football clubs. Messi's lawyers have always emphasized that Messi is highly committed to complying with Spanish laws. The constant media focus on Messi's tax case led some media outlets to report that he intended to leave La Liga. However, Pep Guardiola, before the first training session of Manchester City, told fans who were shouting for Messi to join: 'He will finish his football career at Barcelona.' Mundo Deportivo, a newspaper close to Barcelona, wrote that the club fully supports Messi and will defend him. The club believes that Messi's non-sporting matters are the responsibility of his father and lawyers.