Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and other footballers who were given jail term

Recently, Cristiano Ronaldo was handed a two-year jail term by the Spanish authorities for tax fraud. The Portugese superstar was found guilty of evading 14.7 million euro tax between 2011 and 2014. Though, he wouldn't need to spend time behind the bars, as the rules state that an individual would be open to custodial sentence should he commit a similar offense during this period. So, all that he now needs to do is pay 19 million euros to the authorities.

It puts a small blemish in what is otherwise a successful career for Ronaldo. But he isn't the only footballer in the history to have been awarded jail sentence for committing an offense. Let's take a look at the five most known cases of player getting jail term.

1. Eric Cantona: The France and Manchester United legend was a magician with the ball in his feet. He was one of the best players around in the 1990's, and helped the Red Devils to astonishing success. But for all the talents he had, Cantona was also very temperamental.

In 1995, he did something which earned him the wrath of the fans and the authorities. Playing against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent-off for kicking out on an opposition player. But what followed since earned the 'Bad boy' tag.

While heading off the field, a Crystal Palace fan abused the Manchester United forward. And Cantona couldn't control his anger, and attempted a 'kung fu kick' on him, before series of punches. 

This act of his not only earned him a lengthy ban from the game, but also a two-week prison sentence. Though, the striker never went behind the bars, and instead, was sentenced to 120 hours of community service.

2. Joey Barton: If there was someone who could be termed as the 'Real Bad Boy' of football, it would be Joey Barton. The England midfielder has committed so many offenses in his career that it is tough to count them.

Be it a knee on the back of Sergio Aguero, or grabbing the neck of Gervinho, or a punch in the stomach of Mortan Gamst Pedersen, Barton has done it all. All of these instances earned him disciplinary actions.

But in 2007, he did something that brought prison sentence towards him. Then at Manchester City, Barton injured his teammate Ousmane Dabo after a training ground incident. Dabo was hospitalized and suffered injuries to his head.

For this act of madness, Barton was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence, and in addition to that, was told to do 200 hours of community service.

3. Adam Johnson: Arguably the least known player in the list, but nevertheless, Adam Johnson was convicted for the most heinous of offense. The former Manchester City winger was touted as a future star. But instead of making a name on the field, he made a name off it.

In 2015, Johnson was charged over sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, which was illegal in the country. For more than a year, the case went on, and Johnson kept on playing for his then club Sunderland on bail.

But in 2016, he was given a six-year prison sentence for his offense. 

4. Lionel Messi: Arguably the greatest football player of all time got involved himself in controversy when the Spanish authorities accused him and his father of tax fraud. His club, Barcelona, and his lawyers kept on declining the charges.

But the authorities gave Messi a 21-month prison sentence, and his father a 15-month sentence. Though, the duo walked away without facing jail time after paying fines of 250,000 euro and 180,000 euro respectively.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo: Ever since he was accused of defrauding the Spanish authorities in tax case, Cristiano Ronaldo and his team have been on the defensive, claiming the Portugese did nothing wrong.

But despite all the claims from the Portugese's camp, the Spanish authorities found him guilty of evading 14.7 million euros tax between 2011 and 2014. And in May, they gave him a two-year prison sentence.

Finally, Ronaldo accepted the charges, and decided to pay fines and get away without facing jail time.