Lionel Messi in court to give evidence in tax fraud case

Footballer Lionel Messi and his father are in court to defend themselves against tax fraud charges.

Wearing a dark suit and tie, the Barcelona star sat alongside his father in front of the judge during early proceedings in the third day of the trial.

Barcelona soccer player Lionel Messi, left, arrives at a court in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, June 2, 2016.

Messi and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, are facing three counts of tax fraud and could be sentenced to nearly two years in prison if found guilty of defrauding Spain’s tax authority of €4.1 million (£3.1 million) from 2007-09.

They are not likely to face any jail time but could be fined and have to forfeit possible future tax benefits.

Some people showed their support to the Argentina international as he arrived on Thursday, while shouts for Messi to “give the money back” were also heard.