Lionel Messi tax fraud case: Here's why Barcelona superstar will not go to prison

New Delhi: Argentina and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and his father Jorge were found guilty on three counts of tax fraud by court in Barcelona, and subsequently sentenced to a 21-month prison sentence.

Besides the prison sentence, the court also ordered the five-time World Player of the Year to pay a fine of around €2m while his father — who also got the same jail sentence — was dealt a €1.5m fine.

But the Messis are unlikely to serve any prison sentence, as under Spanish law, a prison sentence under two years can be served under probation, in particular if the subject charged has no criminal record.

In addition, the statement released by the court also read that the decision can be appealed through the Spanish Supreme Court.

Interestingly, Messi's Argentine compatriot at Barcelona Javier Mascherano also got one year of prison sentence in Spain itself for tax evasion early February this year.

However, the sentence was delayed for a two-year span after his legal team rejected the option to pay a new €280,000 ($312,000) fine, which they considered excessive.