Lionel Messi's family have dismissed accusations by panama pepers

Lionel Messi's family have dismissed accusations made following the release of the 'Panama Papers' as "false and libellous".

Various media reports had drawn links between the Barcelona star and the documents released from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca but in a statement released on Monday, the Messi family dismissed those reports, suggesting that they are considering legal action against "media outlets that have published this news".

"In response to the news released by various media outlets in which Lionel Messi is held responsible for the forming of a company with the aim of 'putting in place a new web of tax fraud', the Messi family wishes to make it clear that Lionel Messi has not carried out any of the actions he is accused of, the accusations of having created a new web of tax fraud and, even, money laundering, are false and libellous," the statement read.