Messi gets 21 months jail time

Lionel Messi's summer has got even worse, with the Barcelona star sentenced to 21 months in prison after being found guilty of tax fraud.

Messi, who recently confirmed his retirement from international football, was also ordered to pay a fine of two million euros when he was sentenced.

However, sentences of under two years are not typically served in jail in Spanish law, so Messi is not likely to have to go to prison despite being found guilty.

Messi's father and agent, Jorge, was also given the same prison sentence, along with a slightly smaller fine of 1.5 million euros.

The 29-year-old defrauded the government of 4.2 million euros in tax between 2007 and 2009, with shell companies set up by the Messi family to avoid paying tax on the star's image rights. Tax havens in Belize and Uruguay were reportedly used as part of the Messi tax fraud scam.

Messi, who has been named World Player of the Year on five occasions, denied any knowledge of the tax fraud and insisted all of his financial affairs are handled by his father, but the court ruled this was not a good enough excuse to avoid a punishment.

In a statement, Barcelona stood by Messi, who helped the La Liga side to defend their league title last season.

"FC Barcelona expresses its full support to Leo Messi and his father in relation to the conviction for tax fraud," the statement from the La Liga side read.

"The club... considers that the player, who has corrected his position with the Spanish tax office, is in no way criminally responsible with regards to the facts underlined in this case."

Messi and his father have the right to appeal to the supreme court if they disagree with the punishment they have been given as a result of being found guilty of tax fraud.

2016 gets worse for Messi

It has already been a bad summer for Messi, whose Argentina side were beaten in the final of the Copa America last month, while his Barcelona team were defeated by rivals Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League earlier in the year.

Chile triumphed over Argentina on penalties for the second year in a row, extending the nation's wait for a major international trophy to 23 years and leading to Messi announcing his retirement.

The Argentina captain insisted he would step down from duties with the national side after losing a final for the third summer in a row, with Messi missing a penalty in the 2016 Copa America loss.

Diego Maradona, Pele and Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez are among the world stars who urged Messi to reconsider his decision and play on until at least the 2018 World Cup, which is due to be held in Russia, but disarray at the Argentina FA has contributed to Messi's announcement.

"Messi has to stay because he will reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia in conditions to become world champion," Maradona said. 

"The lads have to be supported more to help him take the team forward. Messi must go on."