A Spanish court has decided to continue to pursue a tax evasion charge against Lionel Messi, despite the public prosecutor recommending than the case be dismissed.

The court heard earlier this year that the Barcelona star's father Jorge was responsible for the family's finances, exonerating the Argentine international.

However, the court in Barcelona has now decided that it will push ahead with the case after suggesting that Messi may have know about the companies that were used to avoid paying income tax from image rights.

Messi and his father are accused of defrauding the Spanish state of over £3m in taxes between 2006 and 2009, which they have both denied.