Messi in Spain tax fraud hearing

Lionel Messi made a 5m-euro payment to Spain's tax authorities in August

Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his father are to appear in a Spanish court over tax fraud allegations.

The 26-year-old Argentine, who has been named World Player of the Year four times, and his father Jorge Messi are accused of defrauding the authorities of more than 4m euros (£3.4m).

They are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use Messi's image.

They both deny the allegations, which date back to 2007-09.

'Tougher line'

The striker and his father are expected to be questioned in a closed-court session in Gava - the affluent Barcelona district where the footballer lives.

They are accused of three counts of defrauding the Spanish state of taxes.

The income related to Messi's image rights included contracts with Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Proctor and Gamble, and the Kuwait Food Company.

In August, the two accused made a payment of 5m euros to the tax authorities - the 4.16m of the alleged unpaid tax plus interest.

But state prosecutors are still pursuing the case - as the tax authorities are taking a much tougher line as a result of Spain's economic crisis, reports the BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid.

Earlier, Messi stated that he and and his father "have never committed any infringement. We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations."

Messi's net salary from Barcelona is said to be about 16m euros a year, making him one of the world's most highly-paid sportspeople.

He has also signed multi-million-dollar endorsements with commercial sponsors around the world.

Messi's achievements on the field have made him one of the most marketable in the business.

He came from a modest background and has overcome a serious health issue, joining Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000 and making his first-team debut only three years later.

But the allegations are a big blow to the prestige of Messi, who has long been seen as a more humble figure than most top-class footballers.

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