Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo gestures at Cibeles square in Madrid on May 27, 2018, after the team’s Champions League title win.BENJAMIN CREMEL/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo has reached a deal with Spanish authorities to settle a tax evasion case by paying a fine of €18.8-million ($28.8-million) and accepting a suspended jail sentence, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The greatest scorer in Real Madrid’s history – who was expected to play in Portugal’s opening World Cup match against Spain on Friday – is the latest in a long line of top soccer players to be accused of tax evasion since a crackdown by Spanish courts.
The source confirmed Spanish newspaper El Mundo’s report of the deal but said it had yet to be signed by the lawyers.
The 33-year-old is accused of evading €14.7-million in taxes. He has denied the allegations.
Under the deal, Ronaldo would get a two-year jail sentence, but is unlikely to go to prison as Spanish law states a sentence of less than two years for a first offence can be served on probation.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month prison sentence in 2017 on similar charges, but under Spanish law was able to exchange the penalty for a fine.
Ronaldo clouded fans’ delight in Real’s 3-1 win over Liverpool in the European Champions League final in Kiev in May by hinting he was about to leave the club.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, was named the world’s most popular athlete by ESPN on the basis of his social media following, endorsement deals and search score. He also headed the ESPN world fame 100 list for a third year, narrowly beating out LeBron James and Messi.