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Lionel Messi and his family are planning to sue Spanish newspaper El Confidencial for defamation after the Barcelona star was linked to tax evasion projects by ‘the Panama Papers’.

The Argentina captain, who is due in court soon along with father Jorge over tax evasion charges, is accused of “setting up a tax fraud network” by using Panamanian company Mega Star Enterprises to avoid paying tax on image rights deals.

Documents produced by the Madrid-based daily show both the signatures of Messi and his father in acquiring the dormant Mega Star Enterprises, via a Uruguayan buffer company, just one day after being indicted by Spanish fiscal authorities over a separate case worth an alleged €4million in unpaid taxes.

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The paper trail originates from an enormous leak of over two terabytes of information from Mossack Fonseca, a company in Panama that specialises in offshore businesses.

El Confidencial have confirmed that Lionel and Jorge Messi will be taking legal action against them, while an announcement is expected from the family on Monday morning.