Lionel Messi to be Prosecuted for Alleged Tax Evasion of $5.4 million

A Spanish court will push ahead with prosecuting the Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for alleged tax evasion despite a recommendation from the public prosecutor the charges be dismissed.  The entire article in the Guardian is here.

Messi is accused of using a "web of shell companies that were allegedly used to evade taxes due on income from image rights." My guess is that he used basic corporate structures (probably a version of the double dutch sandwich) to avoid Spainish taxes.