Messi's prison sentence swapped for fine

Lionel Messi's 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud is to be swapped with a fine to the amount of €255,000 for the Barcelona star.

Spain's public prosecutor has agreed to substitute Lionel Messi's suspended 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud with a fine.

The Barcelona superstar was given the jail term last July after being found guilty - alongside his father Jorge - of three counts of tax fraud. It was ruled that Messi, between 2007 and 2009, defrauded Spain of €4.1million relating to earnings from image rights.

An appeal against the sentence was rejected by the Spanish Supreme Court in May. However, a Spanish news agency reported that the public prosecutor has agreed to substitute the sentence for a fine of €255,000.

During the initial trial in 2016, Messi consistently denied any involvement, insisting his focus was only on playing football.