Former World Player of Year Luis Figo has been ordered to pay around 2.4 million euros ($3.2 million) in income tax to the Spanish government from his time as a Barcelona player, the country’s supreme court ruled.

The former Portugal international had appealed against a 2008 demand from the Spanish tax authorities that claimed monies due from 1997 to 1999 relating to his image rights when he was a player at the Camp Nou.

The midfielder played for Barcelona in 1995-2000, winning two league titles and the European Cup Winners Cup, before making a record-breaking and highly controversial move to their bitter rival Real Madrid.

As Real’s first big-money "Galactico" signing he helped it win two league titles and the 2002 Champions League.