That's a fine Messi ... Barcelona star Lionel in tax probe
The Barcelona star and his dad, Jorge, are accused of filing fraudulent tax
returns from 2006-2009 according to a spokesman for tax crime in Catalonia.
The 25-year-old recognised as the best player in the world and is rumoured to earn £250,000-a-week and £13MILLION in endorsements.
Last year the player agreed a new six-year deal with Barcelona worth an
estimated £17million-a-year AFTER tax which will run until 2018.
He revealed his shock at allegations and insisted he has done nothing wrong.
In a statement the Argentine forward hit back saying: "We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities. We are surprised about this news, because we have never committed any infringement.
"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation."
His club has not commented yet.
Messi - who has won the world player of the year title FOUR times - is one of the world’s highest paid footballers earning around £250,000 a WEEK.
Any club wanting to buy him would have to shell out an astronomical
£320million to include his wages and £210million transfer fee to release him
from the Spanish champions Barcelona.
But due to new tax laws in Spain, Messi's new deal will cost Barca a lot more.
Instead of 24 per cent tax they will now pay up to 52 per cent on Messi's salary which means his wages will increase from £10m-a-year to £17m.
Last December Messi turned down a monster £460,000-a-week offer to quit
Barcelona.
As well as his Barcelona wages, he earns millions from sponsors including Adidas, PepsiCo and P&G and he is 10th on Forbes’s latest list of top-earning athletes.
He came on for the final half-hour of Argentina’s World Cup 2014 qualifier
against Ecuador in Quito on Tuesday which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said Messi is expected to be included in the line-up for their friendly against Guatemala on Friday.
The 25-year-old recognised as the best player in the world and is rumoured to earn £250,000-a-week and £13MILLION in endorsements.
Winner ... Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi with trophy
He revealed his shock at allegations and insisted he has done nothing wrong.
In a statement the Argentine forward hit back saying: "We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities. We are surprised about this news, because we have never committed any infringement.
"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation."
His club has not commented yet.
Messi - who has won the world player of the year title FOUR times - is one of the world’s highest paid footballers earning around £250,000 a WEEK.
Agent ... Lionel Messi with dad Jorge
But due to new tax laws in Spain, Messi's new deal will cost Barca a lot more.
Instead of 24 per cent tax they will now pay up to 52 per cent on Messi's salary which means his wages will increase from £10m-a-year to £17m.
Accused ... Lionel Messi
As well as his Barcelona wages, he earns millions from sponsors including Adidas, PepsiCo and P&G and he is 10th on Forbes’s latest list of top-earning athletes.
Accused of tax fraud ... Jorge Messi
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said Messi is expected to be included in the line-up for their friendly against Guatemala on Friday.
