Lionel Messi: Barcelona vow to back player after ‘personal attack’

Lionel Messi’s two million euro fine for tax fraud, announced today by a Spanish court, is small change for the football icon.

Besides the prison sentence, the court had also ordered the Barcelona talisman and his father to pay a fine of around 2 million euros and 1.5 million euros respectively.

Barca immediately issued a statement supporting their player but Messi is said to felt the club could have been more supportive during the case.

Tebas clarified that the court ruled Messi and his father guilty of three counts of tax fraud.

The 29-year-old is allegedly fed up with Spanish authorities after being handed a 21-month prison sentence, which is likely to be suspended due it being his first offence.

Meanwhile, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is said to have held talks with Messi’s father within the last ten days regarding a potential transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Today, Messi along with his father Jorge Messi was in the Supreme court for the final verdict of the crime.

He has repeatedly said he won’t play for another European club, preferring instead to see out his years at Barcelona before finishing his career back in Argentina, but the change in circumstances could persuade him to think otherwise.

The income related to Messi’s image rights that was allegedly hidden includes endorsement deals with Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and the Kuwait Food Company.

That was his third lost Copa America final to go with a defeat in the final of the 2014 World Cup.

Messi has been with Barca his entire career having come through the youth system following his move from Argentina in 2000 and has developed in to arguably the greatest ever player in modern-day football during his 16 years in Spain.

He made his competitive debut in 2004 at 17 and has now scored 453 goals in 531 appearances, winning five Ballon d’Or trophies, as well as eight league titles and four Champions League winner’s medals. “He’s the best in the world”, Macri told CNBC.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.