Barcelona striker, Lionel Messi, and his father are reportedly being investigated for tax evasion

Spanish Tax Authorities Investigate Messi for Alleged Tax Evasion Barcelona striker, Lionel Messi, and his father are reportedly being investigated for tax evasion to the tune of 13 million Euros. According to reports, the Argentine and his father Jorge are accused of deliberately concealing commercial revenues from Spanish authorities from 2006 to 2009 by channelling the income through front companies located in tax havens. Barcelona's El Periodico newspaper says the allegation "consisted of simulating the assignment of image rights to front companies based in tax havens [Belize, Uruguay] and, at the same time, formalising contracts of licensing, agency or benefit from services between these companies, and other such instruments domiciled in convenient jurisdictions [the UK, Switzerland]. It added: "This was done with the intended and successful aim that the incomes would move from countries where the companies or entities were based, to companies domiciled in tax havens, without being submitted to any taxation and, furthermore, with total opacity towards the Spanish Tax Authorities. The beneficiary of these incomes was no other than the person served - Lionel A. Messi." Meanwhile, Messi has responded to the tax evasion allegations via Facebook. Expressing surprise at the allegation, the goal poacher and four-time Ballon d'Or winner said: "We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities. We are surprised about this news, because we have never committed any infringement. We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advise of our Tax Consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation." According to Forbes, Messi is the 10th highest-paid athlete in the world, earning around $41.3 million per year. Only David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have higher yearly earnings in the sport of soccer.