Spanish tax officials are scrutinizing whether football star Neymar paid taxes on a 2016 contract extension bonus and his 2017 transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, which set a world record at 222 million euros, reports indicated.
The investigation focuses on Neymar's tax residency status in Spain during 2017, when he completed the move to PSG. Authorities have requested court documents related to his legal dispute with Barcelona over a 26 million euro bonus the club refused to pay after his transfer.
A Barcelona labor court is set to hear arguments on March 21 regarding the 2016 contract renewal bonus. The club is suing Neymar for 8.5 million euros, claiming breach of contract, while the player seeks full payment of the disputed bonus.
This case joins other high-profile tax investigations involving Spanish footballers. In 2019, Cristiano Ronaldo received a suspended two-year sentence for tax fraud related to his Real Madrid earnings, later settling with an 18.8 million euro payment. Lionel Messi previously paid a 2 million euro fine and served a reduced jail term for similar allegations.
