The initial decision to delay the start of the trial till June 7 would have seen Messi at least miss Argentina’s opening group game against reigning champions Chile in Santa Clara, California, on June 6.

However, a judicial source said on Wednesday that the trial would start as scheduled on May 31 after a “misunderstanding” regarding the dates without offering further details.

Messi and his father Jorge have been charged with tax fraud for allegedly failing to declare 4.16 million euros ($4.74 million) in taxes related to his image rights between 2007 and 2009 through front companies in Belize and Uruguay.

The pair also released a statement on Monday fiercely denying further claims of tax evasion after Messi was one of a series of high-profile names accused of shady offshore dealings in the Panama Papers scandal.

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a jail sentence of 22-and-a-half months for the five-time World Player of the Year.

However, any such sentence would likely be suspended as is common in Spain for first offences carrying a sentence of less than two years.

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