Spain says Neymar has €34 million unpaid tax debt

PSG forward tops a list of thousands of names published on the website of Spanish tax office

Neymar cries at the end of the final. AFP

Bayern's head coach Hans-Dieter Flick, left, and Bayern's David Alaba, right, comfort PSG's Neymar. Pool via AP

Neymar with Paris St Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Reuters

Neymar wipes away the tears. Reuters

Neymar looks on after PSG failed to lift the Champions League trophy. Reuters

Neymar looks dejected after the final. Reuters

Neymar touches the trophy before heading off. Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel and Neymar react in front of the trophy. EPA

PSG's Neymar smiles the warm up before the final. Pool via AP

Neymar's first half shot was well saved. EPA

PSG's Neymar gestures. AP

Bayern Munich's German midfielder Leon Goretzka (right) and Serge Gnabry foul Neymar. AFP

Neymar rolls on the floor after a heavy challenge. EPA

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, left, and Neymar ahead of kick off. AP Photo

Neymar lies on the pitch. Pool via AP

Hansi Flick (left) and David Alaba (right) of Bayern react with Neymar after the match. EPA

Bayern's David Alaba, left, comforts PSG's Neymar. Pool via AP

Neymar looks dejected after the final, as Bayern celebrate. Reuters

Neymar comes close to scoring in the second half. Reuters

Neymar during the warm up. Pool via Reuters

Neymar was far from his best during the final. EPA

PSG's Neymar leaves after his team's defeat. Pool via AP

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar owes more unpaid tax than any other individual on a Spanish authorities' blacklist with debts of €34.6 million ($40.5 million), according to an official document published on Wednesday.

The Brazilian tops a list of thousands of names published on the website of the Spanish tax office.

The Spanish press reported last year the country's tax authorities were pursuing Neymar for fiscal fraud dating back to his time at Barcelona – the 28-year-old played for the Spanish club from 2013 to 2017 before moving to PSG for a world-record fee of €222 million – but it is the first time the information has been officially confirmed.

The Spanish tax office has not said whether Neymar's inclusion on the list was linked to his move to Camp Nou from Brazilian club Santos in 2013. But it said to appear on the list of the highest debtors the individuals had to fulfil several criteria, including missing the final deadline to pay the debt.

According to media reports Spain's fiscal authorities are investigating two of Neymar's transfers, his arrival at the Camp Nou from Santos in 2013 and his switch to the French capital four years later.

Barca initially said they paid €57.1 million to sign the forward from Brazilian side Santos before an investigation by the prosecutor's office in Madrid prompted the club to reveal the actual fee was €86.2 million with more than half of that paid to the player's parents.

Neymar signed a new contract in 2016 which triggered bonus payments but Barca refused to pay the remaining €26 million in add-ons after he left for the Parc des Princes the following summer.

In June, a Spanish court dismissed the forward's case against the club and told him to pay €6.79 million to Barca, who claimed he had violated his deal.

Neymar is by no means the only football figure to have been pursued by the Spanish treasury.

His former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi as well as ex-Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo have both agreed financial settlements after being pursued in the Spanish courts.

In January 2019, Ronaldo, now at Italian side Juventus, was handed a suspended two-year prison sentence for committing tax fraud while he was in Madrid.

The Portugal forward also agreed to pay €18.8 million in fines and back taxes to settle the case, according to legal sources.

Barcelona captain Messi agreed to pay a €2 million fine in 2016 in his own tax wrangle and received a 21-month suspended jail term.