Messi finds himself currently embroiled in an ongoing tax evasion with the Spanish authorities over allegations he evaded more than 4m in taxes. The accusations date back to between 2007 and 2009, where Messi is alleged to have used Belize and Uruguay-based companies to funnel incomes based upon his image rights. Obviously Messi is hardly the first high profile star, or even footballer, to use such loopholes to avoid paying so much in taxes. Yet the timing isnt ideal, with Spanish authorities newly vigilant in clamping down on footballers financial misdealings. Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso and David Villa are just three footballers to have been fingered by the Spanish government in the last couple of years, with all three paying back millions to settle their cases out of court. Messi has himself paid a sum of 5m to the treasury in the hope of a similar resolution. Messis legal team hoped the settlement, along with the defence that Messi is innocent by virtue of ignorance (his father deals with his financial earnings) would be enough to make the accusations go away. Spanish authorities appear less keen, however. And unlikely as it may seem, if found guilty then Messi could feasibly serve up to six years in prison according to Spanish law.
