The lawyers of Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have announced that they will appeal the 21-month prison sentences handed to their clients for tax fraud on Wednesday.
Barcelona star Messi was found guilty of defrauding Spain's tax authority of €4.1 million between 2007 and 2009.
He is not expected to serve time in jail as sentences under two years for individuals with no prior convictions can be suspended under Spanish law.
For this reason Messi's lawyers say they consider the sentence "symbolic" but maintain his innocence - as well as his father's - and insist they will continue to fight the decision.
Messi has also been fined six weeks' wages - €1.7m - after being accused of creating fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid taxation on his image rights.
- Goal