Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in court on Monday on charges of alleged tax fraud, and sensational reports now claim he could face 15 years in jail if he does not accept a plea deal.

Spanish authorities have accused the Portuguese forward of avoiding paying taxes between 2011 and 2014, which he allegedly did through three different companies said to be linked with his entourage.

Ronaldo's first court hearing was on Monday, and during his statement, he claimed he had no intention of evading taxes. The 32-year-old also denied creating a special company to handle his image rights.

However, Cadena COPE has claimed that if Ronaldo and his team decide to go to trial to fight the accusations without recognising their alleged wrongdoing, he could face up to 15 years in jail.

On top of that, the player would also be expected to pay a massive fine of €75 million (R1.1 billion), whereas if he does plead guilty to the alleged fraud, he would face a fine of €28 million (R436 million) and a suspended prison sentence.

While Ronaldo and his team have maintained their innocence thoughout the investigation, Spanish authorities believe the player attempted to clear up his alleged image rights offences after becoming aware that many companies were undergoing inspections.