Lionel Messi's 21-month prison sentence in tax fraud case is upheld, but he is not expected to serve any jail time

Manu Fernandez/AP

The Supreme Court in Spain has upheld a 21-month prison sentence for Argentine football star Lionel Messi and his father in the appeal of their tax fraud case. Neither are expected to serve any jail time.

According to a Reuters report, sentences under two years in length in Spain can be served as probation.

Messi and his father were also fined €2 million (US$2.2 million) each.

Messi and his father were charged with using tax havens in Uruguay and Belize and shell companies in the United Kingdom and Switzerland to avoid paying taxes. It is believed that the pair avoided paying €4.1 million (US$4.6 million) in taxes.