FIFA World’s best player of the year and Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, on Monday appeared in a Spanish court amid allegations of tax fraud.
Spanish prosecutors are accusing Mr. Ronaldo of evading about $17.3 million in tax since 2010, similar to Lionel Messi’s tax fraud case in 2016.
Barcelona forward and five-time Balon D’Or winner, Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month prison sentence after he was found guilty of evading $7.3 million in tax, $10 million less than that of Mr. Ronaldo.
However, last month a Barcelona court ruled that instead of a jail term, Messi could pay a $550,000 fine.
Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier rebuffed the allegation saying his “conscience is clear.”
The Portuguese National team captain had arrived at a court in Pozuelo de Alacorn, a suburb of Spain’s Capital Madrid, to give evidence at about 11.am.
Prosecutors say Mr. Ronaldo hid income generated from his image rights from tax authorities although his management has long denied the allegations.
He is also said to have skipped his press appearance just after appearing in court.
But a statement attributed to him said, “If my name wasn’t Cristiano Ronaldo, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
If taken on trial and found guilty, Ronaldo could face up to three years in jail and pay at least $25 million in fines according to Spain’s Inland Revenue officials.
