Tax evasion allegations ruined Ballon d’Or win celebrations
Internet Desk: Cristiano Ronaldo took on Lionel Messi after winning his fourth Ballon d’Or in Paris on Tuesday. The Portuguese star believes he would have won more individual awards than Lionel Messi if the pair played on the same team but also praised his rival.
“It would be interesting to see both of us in the same team. I think great players should play together. So if we were in the same team, I think I would have more than him, but he wouldn’t be far off.
Everyone knows Messi is a great player. He’s won five Ballons d’Or,” said Ronaldo.
Messi still leads the way as the Argentine superstar has five Ballon d’Or titles to his credit.
The last few weeks has seen him going through mixed emotions. The Real Madrid footballer was dragged into alleged tax evasion.
At the time of receiving the award from France Football, Ronaldo confessed to a magazine that he did not go completely to the side of the whole matter. “Of course I’ve been embittered by the pleasure of winning this Golden Ball, I’d be lying if I said no, I’m not a hypocrite. My family, my son, the people who work with me. ”
The player’s representatives presented a certificate issued by the Tax Agency that would prove that Cristiano “is in days with his tax obligations”.
Jose Maria Mollinedo, the secretary general of the Spanish Ministry of Finance, said the case was a “serious tax offense” and said that the Portuguese attacker could be sentenced to up to six years in prison if the charges were proven.
The Portuguese player again mentioned that he did everything correctly and that from now on the issue will be settled in court. “It hurts me because we have always tried to do things well. There are innocent people in prison and that is how I feel. When it is about something as serious as what is happening, we have to do justice. I have lawyers,” said Ronaldo.