Messi forks out €5m to taxman

Footballer Lionel Messi and his father have paid €5m to the Spanish taxman ahead of a court appearance on tax evasion charges later this month.

The Argentine player's father Jorge is reported to have deposited the payment with the court on August 14.

Prosecutors accuse the two of defrauding the tax office of income related to the use of his image from 2006-2009.