Messi sentenced to 21 months in prison

Soccer star Lionel Messi and his father were accused by Spanish tax authorities of defrauding the government of 4-point 2-million euros in taxes between 2007 and 2009.

Prosecutors claimed that they used a web of shell companies to evade taxes on income from the player's image rights.

Messi said he had no knowledge of the dealings and that his father controlled his financial affairs.

But the court said this was not enough for him to avoid charges and sentenced each of them to 21 months in prison and fined the player 2 million euros or 2-point-2 million dollars.

The Argentine star plays for Barcelona and is a five-time World Player of the Year.

He's 10th on Forbes Magazine's list of the world's highest-earning athletes over the past decade.

He and his father can appeal the verdict to the country's supreme court.