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Report: Lionel Messi could face prison time over alleged tax fraud

Lionel Messi is set to go to trial for alleged tax fraud after a Barcelona court shot down an appeal that was filed by his lawyers this week.

According to a report from El Pais, prosecutors believe there is evidence to support claims that Messi used a network of companies that were created by his father in several different countries to help the Barcelona star hide money. Messi has allegedly skipped out on the equivalent of $5.5 million in tax payments to the Spanish Tax Agency.

Messi’s legal team was seeking to argue that the 27-year-old had no knowledge of the tax evasion scheme.