The Barcelona superstar has been given a suspended term by a Spanish court, meaning he is expected to avoid spending time behind bars.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been handed a 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud but is unlikely to serve time in prison.
Any sentence under two years can be suspended under Spanish law, meaning Messi is expected to avoid spending a day behind bars, according to widespread reports.
Messi, one of the world's highest-paid footballers, was tried alongside his father, Jorge, for deceiving Spain's tax authority of 4.1 million euros ($4.53 million) between 2007 and 2009.