Barcelona star player Lionel Messi and his father  have been sentenced to 21 months in prison for three counts of tax and fraud.

Messi and his father have been facing trial for allegedly using tax havens to avoid paying taxes and were handed the verdict today. Despite the sentence they could still escape without serving  their term by appealing to the Spanish Supreme court.

In addition because the sentence is less than two years they can avoid going to prison and serve the sentence under probation.

Messi has also been ordered to pay a fine of 2 million Euros with his father handed a 1,5 million fine.

Messi recently retired from international football after failing to clinch the Copa America title.