The Barcelona star was previously sentenced to 21 months in prison, though Spanish law dictated he did not have to spend any time in jail
Lionel Messi has had his 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud lifted and exchanged for a €250,000 fine.

The Argentina international and his father, Jorge Horacio, were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud last July, with the pair failing to pay €4.1 million owed from image rights.

Neither has spent time in prison, however, with Spanish law dictating that any defendants without previous convictions serve sentences of under two years on probation.

That period has now ended, with both men having had their sentences lifted and exchanged for fines.

Messi's father, who was originally sentenced to 15 months in prison, will now be forced to pay €180,000.

The news comes two days after Barca's announcement that their star man had agreed a new contract that will take him through to 2021 at Camp Nou.

You see guys, Spain isn't any
Better than Nigeria when it comes to judicial system.

Nigerian bank employee steals 200M, gets 100k fine.
Messi made financial structures so that he could avoid paying (aka steal) the tax man Millions of €. Pays a fine and also gets off the hook.

World best player, no one can bring u down... Haters go hug transformer