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The best football player on the planet, Lionel Messi, has come under the scrutiny of law enforcement - it is suspected that he did not pay 4 million euros in taxes to the Spanish state.
According to reports, the 25-year-old Argentine and his father Jorge Horacio incorrectly filled out income tax returns for the years 2007-2009. It is said that these returns did not reflect the income received for the sale of Messi's commercial usage rights, and this tax evasion scheme may have been implemented using companies in Uruguay and Belize.
However, formal charges have not yet been filed, as his representatives have already filed a complaint.
Messi, whose earnings are around 40 million euros per year, claimed to be unpleasantly surprised: "We have never committed any violations. We always paid taxes and followed the recommendations of tax consultants, so they will clarify the situation."
In theory, the player for the "Barcelona" club could face six years in prison and a huge fine.
