Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will stand trial over alleged tax evasion alongside father Jorge, according to reports in Spain.
The forward and his father have been accused of defrauding the Spanish authorities of €4.1million by benefiting from a complex network of companies set up to sell Messi's image rights in a host of countries.
The alleged fraud is believed to have taken place between 2007 and 2009.
Prosecutors initially stated earlier this week that charges against the Barca star had been dropped.
The 28-year-old had appeared set to be spared a trial on the grounds that, because of his age, responsibility for any alleged wrongdoing would be placed on his father, who it was claimed had "control of his tax obligations".
However, the Argentina icon will now be asked to appear in court, according to Spain's national news agency, EFE.
Jorge Messi has previously denied any intention to defraud and has always sought to distance his son from any suggestions of wrongdoing, telling Spanish radio last year: "I have always said it, he had absolutely nothing to do with it, so there is no need to talk about it."
Messi's management company hit back on behalf of its client after it emerged the Barcelona star is likely to face trial for tax fraud.
"The Prosecutor's Office did not accuse Lionel Messi of any financial fraud on September 25," Leo Messi Management wrote in a letter titled 'The State Attorney is trying to contradict prosecutors in Messi case'.
"In its statement, the Prosecutor's Office widely discussed the reasons for not accusing Lionel Messi.
"The State Attorney has contradicted the Prosecutor's request and judgement. The State Attorney's statement was presented on July 8, while the Prosecutor's was issued later, on September 25.
"The State Attorney represents the interests of the Revenue Agency, while the Prosecutor's Office is the appropriate constitutional organisation formed with effective autonomy in the Judiciary.
"The sentence sought by the State Attorney does not imply it will be complied with effectively.
"In the coming weeks Lionel Messi's defence will have the chance to present its arguments in the trial, and the evidence it believes relevant, which prove that the Prosecutor's position in not accusing Lionel Messi is correct."
The star forward, sidelined due to a knee injury suffered playing for Barcelona at home to Las Palmas in La Liga last month, posted a picture and message on Facebook informing his fans he is continuing his rehabilitation.