“Insects only attack lights that shine” - When Cristiano Ronaldo aimed pointed dig at critics after court appearance for tax fraud allegations

Cristiano Ronaldo took a cheeky dig at critics in 2017 when he was involved in a tax fraud case in Spain. The Portuguese superstar was accused of defrauding the tax authorities from 2011 to 2014, with €14.8 million in unpaid taxes.

Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a photo of himself standing in the middle of a light display. While the photo itself was not a dig at the court and the proceedings, his caption made it clear why he was sharing it. He wrote:

“What bothers people is my glow. Insects only attack lights that shine.”

Ronaldo also shared a statement to the media, saying that he was not evading taxes and has never done anything to hide his income. He added that every deal was done over the table and he was willing to cooperate, and said (via ESPN):

"The Spanish tax service [Hacienda] knows the detail of all my income because we have given it to them. I have never hidden anything, nor did have I ever had the intention of evading taxes. I always do my tax declaration in a voluntary manner, as I think that we must all declare and pay taxes according to our income. Those who know me know that this is what I ask from my advisors -- that they keep everything up to date, and correctly paid, as I do not want any problems."

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly told the judge that he was being targeted by the tax authorities in Spain because of his image.

Cristiano Ronaldo rebuffed claims of evading taxes

Cristiano Ronaldo boldly stated that he had not created a separate structure to manage his image rights before moving to Spain. He argued that everything was set in 2004 when he moved to Manchester United - five years before joining Real Madrid - and said in his statement:

"When I signed for Real Madrid, I did not create a special structure to manage my image rights, I just kept the way they were managed when I was in England. The lawyers who were recommended to me by Manchester United created it in 2004, long before I thought of coming to live in Spain. The structure was normal in England, accepted by the English tax authority who ratified it as legal."

Cristiano Ronaldo eventually agreed to pay a fine of €18.8 million in 2019 after leaving Real Madrid for Juventus. The deal also saw him get a 23-month suspended prison sentence.

Edited by Sripad