MADRID - Spain's Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed a 21-month prison sentence and $2.25 million fine imposed on Lionel Messi for tax fraud, months after the Barcelona star lodged an appeal.

In July 2016, the Argentina international and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, were found guilty of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on $4 million of Messi's income earned from his image rights from 2007-09.

The income related to Messi's image rights that was hidden includes endorsement deals with Danone, adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and the Kuwait Food Company.