- Cristiano Ronaldo accepted a $22 million fine and two-year suspended jail term over tax fraud.
- He left the court with a smile on his face and paused to sign autographs before leaving in a black van.
- Read all of Business Insider's coverage for the 2018-2019 European Soccer season right here.
Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost £17 million ($22 million) for tax fraud on Tuesday but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence after agreeing a deal.
Ronaldo, holding hands with his Spanish fiancee Georgina Rodriguez, came out of the court room smiling, pausing to sign autographs before leaving in a black van.
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The 33-year-old Juventus forward, who played for Real Madrid from 2009-18, agreed to settle the case by paying an €18.8 million fine and accepting a suspended jail sentence.
Under Spanish law, a first offender can serve anything less than a two-year sentence under probation and Ronaldo will not have to go to prison.
His court appearance lasted about 15 minutes as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner only needed to sign off on the previously settled agreement.
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