--- description: Spanish criminal law allows first-time sentences of less than two years to be suspended title: Why Lionel Messi Won't Go to Prison for Tax Fraud image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4adbc29282cabec7/69889ad78e0601f08146694c/lionel-messi1.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Why Lionel Messi Won't Go to Prison for Tax Fraud by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 6, 2016 5:03 PM CUT  Lionel Messi of Argentina looks on during the championship match between Argentina and Chile at MetLife Stadium as part of Copa America Centenario US 2016 on June 26, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, US. Lionel Messi of Argentina looks on during the championship match between Argentina and Chile at MetLife Stadium as part of Copa America Centenario US 2016 on June 26, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, US.Omar Vega/STR—LatinContent/Getty Images by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 6, 2016 5:03 PM CUT Soccer star [Lionel Messi](http://time.com/4394457/lionel-messi-jailed-tax-fraud/ "undefined") and his father were convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to 21 months in prison on Wednesday, but neither man is likely to actually serve time. That’s because [Spanish criminal law](https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/artpub/2005/129948/Suspended%5FSentence%5Fin%5FSpain%5Fdecarceration%5Fand%5Frecidivism%5F.pdf "undefined") typically allows [sentences shorter than two years](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/06/484902571/soccer-star-lionel-messi-sentenced-to-21-month-jail-term-for-tax-fraud "undefined") to be suspended and carried out under [probation](http://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/lionel-messi-sentenced-to-21-months-in-prison-for-tax-fraud-but-likely-wont-serve/ "undefined") for first-time, non-violent offenders, as Messi is. Additionally, he can still appeal his sentence, and is [expected](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/sports/soccer/lionel-messi-taxes-prison-suspended.html "undefined") to do so. A spokesperson for the Barcelona court confirmed to Reuters that Messi was unlikely to go to prison. But that doesn’t mean he won’t feel some pain: He’s been fined €2 million ($2.2 million), and his father has been fined €1.5 million ($1.7 million). The two have [already](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/sports/soccer/lionel-messi-taxes-prison-suspended.html "undefined") made a voluntary payment of €5 million ($5.5 million) to cover the taxes they are accused of evading, plus interest. Both men deny intentional wrongdoing, and Messi says he often signed documents presented by his father and advisers without reading them. 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