Messi denies tax evasion in Panama Papers scandal

Barcelona forward Messi has been accused of "setting up a tax fraud network" by using Panamian company Mega Star Enterprises.

Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi.

The family of Lionel Messi denied on Monday that he was involved in tax evasion after the football star emerged as one of many personalities accused of shady offshore dealings in the so-called Panama Papers scandal.

"The Messi family wants to make clear that Lionel Messi has not carried out any of the acts attributed to him, and accusations he created a... tax evasion plot, including a network of money-laundering, are false and insulting," it said in a statement.