Barcelona star Lionel Messi is facing legal proceedings related to tax fraud. Indicted for allegedly hiding around 4 million euros from the Spanish tax authorities, Messi and his father, Jorge Messi, have consistently maintained their innocence. The court of Gava (south of Barcelona) is set to hear their case, with a scheduled appointment on Friday at 11 a.m.
Messi’s ex-agent, Rodolfo Schinocca, has been singled out by the player’s defense, claiming that Schinocca was responsible for the structure and management during the period under investigation.
Jorge Messi, who handled his son’s image rights, had already paid over 5 million euros to the tax authorities in August, covering payment and interest. However, this did not prevent the legal proceedings from continuing against Lionel Messi. The footballer, ranked as the 8th highest-paid player in June according to Forbes magazine, with an annual salary of 20.3 million dollars (15 million euros), faces the legal scrutiny for alleged tax irregularities.
