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Judge refuses to drop Messi tax fraud case

A Spanish court on Monday rejected public prosecutors' request to drop charges of tax fraud against four-time world footballer of the year Lionel Messi and ordered the probe to go ahead.

Judge refuses to drop Messi tax fraud case
Despite the court case, Messi continues to lead advertising campaigns for brands like Adidas and video games maker EA Sports.

The Barcelona forward and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, were accused last year of not paying €4.16 million ($5.58 million) in tax on earnings from the player's image rights from 2007-2009 through the creation of a web of shell companies in Belize and Uruguay.

Both Messi and his father denied wrongdoing and pointed the finger instead at a former agent of the player when they were quizzed at a court in Gava, the Barcelona suburb where the player lives, in September 2013.

Based on the Messis' testimony, public prosecutors called for the case to be shelved but the court on Monday ruled that Messi "could have known and consented" to the tax fraud and the prosecution of the case should go ahead.

Messi is the fourth richest sportsperson in the world, according to a ranking published in June by Forbes business magazine.

He moved up to fourth from 10th place in just a year with an annual income of just under $65 million, it said.

Between 2007 and 2009 he earned more than €10.17 million in image rights.

Despite the court case, Messi continues to lead advertising campaigns for brands like Adidas and video games maker EA Sports.

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FOOTBALL

‘Diego is eternal’: Messi pays tribute to Maradona

Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona on Wednesday by calling him "eternal" after his fellow Argentine died of a heart attack.

'Diego is eternal': Messi pays tribute to Maradona
Diego Maradona hugs Lionel Messi after 2010 World Cup quarter final Argentina vs Germany. Photo: AFP

“A very sad day for all Argentines and football,” Messi wrote on Instagram. “He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal. I will keep all the beautiful moments that I lived with him and would like to send my condolences to all his family and friends. RIP.”

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Messi and Maradona have often been compared in the debate about who was the greatest footballer of all time.

Both players are icons in Argentina and have been likened to each other due to their global status, dribbling style and famous number 10 shirts.    

Maradona was also Messi's coach during his brief time in charge of the national team, which included Argentina being thrashed by Germany in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals.


A banner held up during 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 25, 2014. Photo: AFP

 

Maradona spent two years at Barcelona, where Messi is now captain and the club's all-time top scorer, although Maradona's greatest years were spent with Napoli in Italy.

Asked about Maradona in 2010, Messi said: “Even if I played for a million years, I'd never come close to Maradona. Not that I'd want to anyway. He's the greatest there's ever been.”

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