Lionel Messi court case: Barcelona forward jeered, branded a 'thief' as he arrives for tax fraud trial

The 28-year-old, among the world’s highest-earning athletes, is being tried on the suspicion of creating a string of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid tax

Lionel Messi arrives at court in Barcelona on Thursday accused of tax fraud (Getty)

Lionel Messi was jeered and branded a “thief” as the Barcelona forward arrived at court this morning accused of using a chain of companies to avoid paying tax between 2007 and 2009.

The 28-year-old, among the world’s highest-earning athletes, is under suspicion of creating a string of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid taxation on €4.16m (£3.2m) of image rights earnings in that period of time.

Onlookers outside the court in Barcelona cried “thief” before one shouted “go and play for Panama” in reference to the recent Panama Papers leak which led to thousands of documents implicating politicians and other public figures in the use of off-shore tax havens.

Messi, who is taking time out from Argentina’s preparations for the Copa America tournament this summer, said in court: “I was playing football; I had no idea about anything. I trusted my dad and my lawyers.”

The Argentinian’s father Jorge Horacio Messi also stands accused of tax fraud with witnesses telling the court yesterday that it was he, not his son, who was responsible for the player’s off-field activities.

Speaking for less than 15 minutes, Messi said he never suspected any wrongdoing when his father would ask him to sign contracts or documents relating to his image rights, a lucrative source of income for any athlete of his calibre.

The pair have been charged with three counts of tax fraud and could be sentenced to two years' imprisonment, if found guilty, with a verdict expected to be announced early next week.

Witness Eva Blazquez, responsible for handling the four-time Champions League winner’s tax declarations, said: “Leo didn't see them. The final supervision was done by the client, in this case, Jorge Messi.”

The trial is expected to finish on Friday. Earlier, Messi's father reiterated that his son didn't know the details of his contracts. “I didn't think it was necessary to inform him of everything,” he said.