Javier Mascherano appeared in court on Thursday and the Barcelona star has admitted to tax evasion.
Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has pleaded guilty to tax evasion after appearing at a Spanish court on Thursday.
The Argentina star was accused of failing to alert Spanish authorities to earnings totalling more than 1.5 million euros ($1.65 million), reports said.
Mascherano is alleged to have used companies he owns in Portugal and the United States to cover up two payments for image rights in 2011 and 2012.
A spokesman for Mascherano told Argentine news agency Telam: "The defendant acknowledged the facts and his responsibility for tax evasion.