Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has accepted a near 22-million-dollar fine issued by a Spanish court over tax evasion charges.<br />The ruling was part of a deal the ex-Real Madrid forward struck in advance with Spanish prosecutors.<br />By agreeing to settle the case, he will avoid a potential 23-month prison sentence.<br />In Spain, a first offender can serve anything less than a two-year sentence under probation.<br />Ronaldo is charged with dodging taxes between 2010 and 2014 when he was playing for Real Madrid. <br />The 33-year-old has been listed by Forbes as the third-wealthiest athlete in the world and now plays for Italian club Juventus. <br />
