Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti is the latest individual in the soccer world to be charged with tax evasion in Spain. The former Real Madrid chief was sentenced to one year in prison along with a fine of €386,361 for not paying taxes on his image rights for the 2014 financial year, during his first tenure at Real Madrid. He is not expected to serve prison time.

Others in Spain, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have faced similar charges.

The court could not prove Ancelotti remained in Spain long enough to incur taxes in the 2015 fiscal year since he moved to London after his dismissal from Real Madrid. Spain rarely enforces sentences shorter than two years for first-time, non-violent offenders, making it unlikely he will serve time.

The Bernardes 30th Criminal Court in Madrid addressed the case between April 2 and 3, confirming that Ancelotti settled his debts and asserting that Real Madrid should have withheld the correct taxes, indicating he never intended to commit fraud.

Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid in 2021 before taking over the Brazil job in June 2025. His earlier years there were not included in this investigation. The Spanish Prosecutor sought a sentence of over four years and a fine of €3.2 million, but both were significantly reduced in the final ruling.

Ancelotti boasts three Champions League victories with Real Madrid, among other achievements.