Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after being found guilty of fiscal fraud, according to widespread reports in Spain.

The 29-year-old has also been given a €2million fine for three counts of tax fraud, it is claimed. His father is believed to have been handed the same prison sentence and a smaller fine of close to €1.5m.

Under Spanish law, neither Messi nor his father would be required to spend any time in prison if the sentence is shorter than two years.

Messi and his father were accused of defrauding Spanish authorities by failing to pay tax on image rights in 2007, 2008 and 2009. They have the right to appeal the sentence.