In a major legal development off the pitch, Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has dodged a prison sentence in his protracted tax fraud case in Spain -- but he has been slapped with a hefty fine equivalent to around RM84 million.
The 41‑year‑old Al‑Nassr forward, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest, was found guilty in connection with allegations that he failed to properly declare income from image rights while playing for Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid between 2011 and 2014.
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Spanish courts handed Ronaldo a 23‑month prison sentence, but the jail term was suspended under Spanish law, which allows first‑time offenders receiving sentences under two years to serve them on probation rather than behind bars. Instead, Ronaldo was ordered to pay a fine of €18.8 million -- roughly RM84 million -- bringing an end to a legal saga that has spanned more than seven years.
The case stemmed from allegations that Ronaldo used offshore companies to disguise earnings from his image rights and evade tax during his highly profitable spell at Real Madrid. Though the deal was settled back in 2019, the formal court ruling only emerged recently, drawing global attention.
With the verdict now behind him, Ronaldo can remain focused on his football career -- leading both Saudi Pro League side Al‑Nassr and the Portugal national team without the distraction of prison time.
This outcome echoes previous high‑profile tax cases involving elite footballers in Spain, where large fines and suspended sentences often replace custodial terms for non‑violent financial offences,
