Leo Messi is running out of bullets. He still had two left after being convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to 21 months in jail, but he's just lost one. During the recent trial which found him guilty of defrauding the tax authorities of 4.1 million euros, state prosecutors only brought a case against Messi's father, having accepted the player's argument that he had only played football and knew nothing about his affairs (an argument the judges in the case threw out).

The case against Messi was brought by the solicitor general (also known as the state lawyer), effectively representing the interest of the tax authorities.

Messi had hoped that subsequent to the trial the prosecutor would support him by appealing his conviction to the supreme court. However the prosecution service has announced it will not be appealing the 21 month sentence. Messi's final bullet then is his own lawyer, Argentinean Enrique Bacigalupo, who is expected to file an appeal in the next few days.