Report: Soccer star Lionel Messi accused of tax fraud
Soccer star Lionel Messi has been accused of tax fraud. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
Soccer star Lionel Messi, the FIFA Player of the Year the past four seasons, has been accused of tax fraud by Spanish officials, reports the BBC.
The Associated Press reports that Messi, 25, and his father are accused of filing fraudulent tax returns from 2007 to 2009. Spanish officials allege that Messi defrauded the government out of four million euros (about $5.3 million) in unpaid income tax.
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On Wednesday, a state prosecutor filed the lawsuit against Messi, the Argentine star of FC Barcelona who is widely considered the best player in the world. If a judge accepts the lawsuit, charges could be filed against Messi, The Associated Press reports.
