Lionel Messi

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by Smudger, Nov 17, 2010.

  1. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    It's the same story for all the schemes. Messi is no different.

    Advisor "you should do this as you'll save tax"

    Client "okay don't understand how it works but where do I sign?"

    You simply cannot run the "moron defence" or every rich person will plead ignorance and free-roll every scheme that comes up. Messi is absolutely guilty of trying shelter his earnings.
     
  2. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    And the Spanish authorities don't make it a condition that Messi has to involve Belize to comply with their tax law. The only people making the tax affairs "ridiculously complicated" in this particular case are Messi and his advisors.
     
  3. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    I disagree. If you know nothing about finances and pay someone to take care of it, and they do something they know is dodgy, then send them to prison and fine the person who hired them. Problem solved.

    So what if rich people plead ignorance? In most cases they probably are. For the minority where they are not, if the bent accountant/tax lawyer (who bloody well should know better) gets fined and put away, and the rich bod gets a fat whack of a fine surpassing the amount originally owed, where's the issue?
     
  4. PhilippineOrn

    PhilippineOrn First Team

    Wouldn't allowing ignorance being a defence pretty much demolish law and order?
     
  5. Legends

    Legends Reservist

    I know nothing about the forum rules.

    Your a ****ing jerk
     
  6. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Arakel if there is no prospect of jail then it simply becomes an expected value equation.

    If "tax evasion savings > expected fine*probability of getting caught" then logically any tax evasion avenue should be persued.

    Jail is a much needed deterrent.
     
  7. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    I see Barca are rallying massively behind their man on social media and in club statements. Seems if you are the best player in the world criminal convictions do not matter.
     
  8. El distraído

    El distraído Johnny Foreigner

    A pathetic display from a gutless club with no morals it would seem.
     
  9. J.B

    J.B First Team

    'Mes que un club'
     
  10. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Spot on. It's like driving without insurance. Fine is probably only slightly greater than the cost of insurance premium, so if you get away with it for 3 years before being caught you're quids in.
     
  11. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    Viva Ronaldo
     
  12. J.B

    J.B First Team

    Ronaldo proving himself to be an all-time great and showing up Messi for the pretender he is tonight.

    Real greats of the game do it at international level and have the ability to play well in and elevate poor sides. Messi on the other hand has bottled it every time for Argentina and retired because he can't be bothered now that the going has got a bit tough.

    Viva Ronaldo :sign15:
     
  13. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    By the way, I know nothing about finance but considering Messi makes so much surely he just gets taxed at the end of the month like everyone else and end of?

    Surely ANY attempt at hiding it is illegal? Or can you "legally" hide your money?
     
  14. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    It was his image rights I think - he sold the rights for a token $50k to a shell company structure in low tax jurisdictions and all the earnings on that went there. This may or may not be legal depending on which country you work in, but seemingly Spanish law says it is illegal (and he didn't argue it wasn't, just pleaded stupidity).
     
  15. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Agree 100%. Messi has been a flop for Argentina in every major tournament. I'm no fan of Ronaldo's personality but he has proven he is the real deal and I believe History will remember as such.

    No denying Messi is a fantastic player and has set records for club, but his failure at international level means he will never be entered into the Pantheon of true greats like Pele, Maradonna, etc. Ronaldo, however, has earned his place and despite being a winker, he deserves if for his dedication and application, which SAF rated as the highest of any professional he's worked with - and he's known a few.
     
  16. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    Come on.. I'm the biggest Ronaldo fan there is but there's no denying Messi is an absolute great and belongs up there with Pele & Maradona, as does Ronaldo.

    However, Ronaldo's list of Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League x 3 La Liga, Golden Boots, Ballon D'Ors & now an international tournament place him above Messi, not in terms of natural ability but definitely as the more accomplished player.

    Genuinely think that as ludicrous as it sounds, Messi should take a one year loan to Man City, score 40 goals here, win a title and show he can do it here week in week out too.
     
  17. Otter

    Otter Gambling industry insider

    Corrected for you
     
  18. MarlonsCellMate

    MarlonsCellMate Reservist

    Plenty of nations do not have Pay As You Earn like we do in the UK. Most nations you have to fill out a tax return and submit it every year, as if you would here if you were self employed.
     
  19. TringOrn

    TringOrn First Year Pro

    Personally I'll always put Messi above Ronaldo solely because of the sheer joy that he brings to anyone watching him. He's an absolute phenomenon and he's been so unlucky not to have won a major international tournament. There's still time for him and I fully expect him to come out of retirement before the next World Cup.

    What I admire the most about Ronaldo is how he has adapted as a player over the years. He was undoubtedly a more exciting player to watch in his latter years at United but he's absolutely a more complete player now. There aren't many better sights in football than watching Ronaldo leap up for a header. It's unbelievable really how both Ronaldo and Messi have been so far ahead of anybody else over the last ten years. Even the likes of Iniesta have never really been seen as Ballon d'Or contenders.
     
  20. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    Really? Aguero, Tevez, Higuain, Lavezzi, Di Maria, Maschenaro.. the list goes on. He's had a stellar supporting cast, didn't turn up at the WC Final, missed a penalty at the Copa America, I wouldn't say unlucky.
     
  21. Pozzo Out

    Pozzo Out Squad Player

    So a miss from Higuain and a goal from Eder when Ronaldo hadn't played the previous 100 minutes supposedly settle Messi v Ronaldo?

    Oke.
     
  22. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    How about a whole international career of overachieving within an average team, including at times dragging them forward single handedly, vs a star studded side with supposedly the best player in the world, repeatedly flopping on the biggest stages.
     
  23. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    One dragged his team over the line however he could, one cried and retired.
     
  24. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    By all accounts, Ronaldo managed the team as well on Sunday, inspiring them with his team talk at half time.
     
  25. LondonOrn

    LondonOrn Squad Player

    As well as in between normal and extra time and between the first and second halves of extra time, including urging Guerreiro to get back onto the pitch with a couple of minutes to go, pain or no pain - that was a gutsy move, because if he'd made a mistake leading to a France equaliser and Portugal lost on penalties, the anti-Ronaldo brigade would've had a field day and called him a bullying egomaniac only after the cup for himself.

    It'd be fascinating to see if Ronaldo follows another great in Zidane to go into management after he retires, he's certainly got the passion and leadership qualities but will he have the tactical nous?
     
  26. Hornet23

    Hornet23 First Team

    Pretty sure the Portuguese chap would have gone back onto the pitch regardless of Ronaldo shouting at him or not. You're not seriously giving him credit for that are you? Or for pacing around the technical area shouting at his teammates to not throw away his last chance of an international trophy? Come on, it's all about him, that whole thing was a show and the cameras and you lapped it up.
     
  27. Legends

    Legends Reservist

    Yes he probably would have but would he have gone back on with the same renewed strength.
    You dont know much about man management and the mental aspects of a high pressure environment it seems.
    Ronaldo was the focus of the Portugal team, has been for years. He demonstrated qualities of a leader, not just an individual. If you cant recognise this then its your weakness.
     

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