Soccer star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to jail for defrauding the Spanish tax authorities and has been fined $2.3 million.

A Barcelona court ruled that between 2007 and 2009, Messi was guilty of tax fraud and that for each of those three years he should serve a sentence of seven months.

However, because this was the first time the Barcelona forward had committed an offence and his sentence was less than two years, the 29-year-old Messi won’t serve jail time as long as he doesn’t break the law again.

Messi’s father Jorge Messi was also handed a 21-month jail sentence and a $1.7 million for tax fraud, though like his son he won’t serve time as he also doesn’t have a criminal record.

Barcelona and Messi were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNN.

The Argentine’s legal representatives argued their client had no knowledge of his tax affairs.

Messi is widely regarded as the best footballer on the planet and is Barca’s all-time leading goalscorer.

•Adapted from a CNN report. Photo shows Messi.