The world’s supreme footballer looks headed for the Spanish Supreme Court where he’ll appeal a 21 month jail sentence handed down to Lionel Messi and his father following tax fraud convictions.

On Wednesday, a Barcelona court found Messi and father Jorge Horacio Messi guilty of avoiding paying tax between 2007-2009, on hidden earnings of $6.13 million earned from his image rights arising from endorsement deals with Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and the Kuwait food company.

Because the jail sentence is under two years, for a first offence non-violent crime, it’s likely to be suspended. However Messi’s lawyers say he has vowed to clear his name.

In addition to the jail sentence, Messi received a $3.08 million fine despite having previously made a voluntary payment of €5 million Euros in 2013, equal to the alleged unpaid tax amount.

The champion footballer has maintained his innocence throughout, claiming he entrusted the management of his wealth to his father and knew nothing about how it was managed.

Despite prosecutors asking that Messi be absolved from the alleged crime, Mario Maza, the State Authority representing tax authorities in the trial said, “There is no deliberate ignorance here, it’s fraud and that’s all there is to it because he didn’t want to pay his taxes”.

Unfortunately for Messi the court agreed, arguing that if he was not punished, ordinary citizens could choose to do the same arguing they simple showed no interest in their tax obligations.

Messi’s trial has taken place in a time of growing public anger over moves to cut government spending on health and other social services, Fox Sports reports.

Messi’s club, Barcelona FC has come out in support of its player.

The 29-year-old is not the first Argentine player for Barcelona to run foul of the tax man. He joins teammate Javier Mascherano who received a suspended one year sentence for tax fraud, just six months earlier.