Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused by Spanish prosecutors of defrauding the authorities of millions of euros in tax.
The prosecutor’s office in Madrid says it has filed a lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese player is accused of evading tax of 14.7 million euros ($16 million) from 2011 to 2014.
The world’s highest-paid sports star had previously said he was not worried about tax investigations as he had nothing to hide.
On this occasion Cristiano Ronaldo is accused of knowingly using a “business structure” to hide income made from his image rights.
In December, leaked documents suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo had avoided tax on income allegedly held in offshore accounts.
The soccer player denied the allegations.
When asked about that investigation, Cristiano Ronaldo told a journalist from Radio Television Portuguesa (RTP): “He who has nothing to hide has no fear.”
According to Forbes‘ annual list of the world’s wealthiest people, Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid sportsperson for the second successive year.
In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo earned $93 million from salary, bonuses and endorsements.
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