Lionel Messi normally makes headlines in Spain for scoring highlight-reel goals and helping FC Barcelona win trophies, but at the moment he’s in the news for the wrong reasons.
A Spanish court will push ahead with prosecuting the Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for alleged tax evasion despite a recommendation from the public prosecutor the charges be dismissed,” according to The Guardian.
The report also states that “Argentina’s Messi and his father were accused last year of defrauding the Spanish state of more than €4m (£3.1m) by filing false returns for the years 2006 to 2009. They have denied wrongdoing.”
Messi led Argentina to the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil earlier this month, where it lost to Germany 1-0 in extra time. The 26-year-old forward was awarded the Golden Ball as the most outstanding player of the tournament despite not scoring in the semifinal or final.
Barcelona does not begin La Liga (Spanish first division) competition until Aug. 24. The club has not made any public comments on Messi’s tax evasion allegations at this time.
