Lionel Messi
Argentina forward who played for Barcelona, per the sources
- Entries
- 13
- On the record
- 7
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Dec 9, 2025
The record
Lionel Messi's record in Spanish courts is longer than the 2016 tax trial. The judiciary's own press notes show the Supreme Court upholding that conviction in 2017, a Barcelona court later swapping the prison term for a fine, and two separate complaints touching his foundation being closed by judges.
He has also been the claimant. In 2017 the Supreme Court's civil chamber made final a damages award in his favour over a 2014 newspaper column that, three levels of court found, insinuated he was doping. The money was ordered paid into an account of Medecins Sans Frontieres rather than to him.
His playing record is documented by the clubs and leagues themselves: a first-team debut for Barcelona in 2004, a departure in 2021 that the club blamed on league registration rules, and a move to Inter Miami in 2023, where Major League Soccer has named him its most valuable player twice.
Roles and honours on the record
Every entry, newest first
- Ruled
Barcelona court gave a 21-month suspended sentence and a €1.7M fine on three tax fraud counts, per Sports Illustrated. Lionel Messi convicted of tax fraud: 21 months, €1.7M fine
- Filed
Stood trial in Barcelona on three tax fraud counts over €4.1 million, 2007-09; told the judge he trusted his father, per ESPN FC. Lionel Messi convicted of tax fraud: 21 months, €1.7M fine
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 2004-10-16 Official He made his Barcelona first-team debut in a league match against Espanyol, the start of a run the club credits with 35 major titles. FC Barcelona club news
- 2015-12-14 Ruled A Barcelona investigating court provisionally closed a tax case against him and the Fundacion Leo Messi over charity match income, finding no indication of fraud above the 120,000 euro criminal threshold. Consejo General del Poder Judicial, TSJ Catalonia press note
- 2017-05-15 Ruled The Supreme Court's civil chamber made final an award ordering a columnist, an editor and a media company to pay him 64,590 euros for a 2014 La Razon column found to insinuate doping. Tribunal Supremo press note
- 2017-05-24 Ruled The Supreme Court upheld his 21-month sentence and a 2,093,000 euro fine on three tax counts for 2007 to 2009, while cutting his father's term to 15 months. Tribunal Supremo press note
- 2017-07-07 Ruled The Audiencia de Barcelona replaced his three seven-month prison terms with a total fine of 252,000 euros, calculated at 400 euros per day. Consejo General del Poder Judicial, TSJ Catalonia press note
- 2019-09-30 Ruled An Audiencia Nacional judge dismissed a private complaint alleging tax, accounting, fraud and laundering offences around his foundation, finding it rested on press reports and described no crime. Consejo General del Poder Judicial press release
- 2021-08-05 Official FC Barcelona said an agreed new contract could not be signed because of LaLiga registration rules, so he would not stay at the club. FC Barcelona official statement
- 2023-10-30 Official He received an eighth Ballon d'Or, a record, becoming the first winner while playing in Major League Soccer. Major League Soccer news
- 2025-10-23 Official Inter Miami extended his contract through the 2028 MLS season; his previous deal ran through 2025. Major League Soccer news
- 2025-12-06 Official Inter Miami beat Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 for its first MLS Cup, and he was named the final's MVP after two assists. Major League Soccer release
- 2025-12-09 Official MLS named him Landon Donovan MVP for a second straight season, a league first, after 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 regular-season matches. Major League Soccer release
Documents
- Tribunal Supremo note upholding the tax conviction (2017)
- Audiencia de Barcelona note on substituting the prison term (2017)
- Tribunal Supremo note on the honour damages award (2017)
- Audiencia Nacional note dismissing the foundation complaint (2019)
- FC Barcelona statement on his departure (2021)
- MLS release on his second MVP award (2025)