A massive data leak published Sunday has well-known actors, athletes and politicians reeling over insinuations that they illegally hide money overseas.

German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung broke the story after receiving 11.5 million confidential files implicating Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists spent the past year compiling the records, many which detail how ad hoc companies owned by some of the world's wealthiest businessmen were made solely to disguise offshore accounts.

While there's nothing technically wrong with opening accounts abroad, the Panama Papers imply that rich and powerful public figures did so for unethical reasons, primarily money laundering, sanction evasions and tax avoidance.

Mossack Fonseca released a statement Monday absolving themselves of any wrongdoing.

"The facts are these: while we may have been the victim of a data breach, nothing we've seen in this illegally obtained cache of documents suggests we've done anything illegal, and that's very much in keeping with the global reputation we've built over the last 40 years of doing business the right way, right here in Panama."

Lionel Messi and the Panama Papers

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi came under scrutiny once his and his dad's signature appeared on a contract with Panama company Mega Star Enterprises Inc.

Spanish authorities began an investigation soon after Madrid-based newspaper El Confidencial published the signatures; the newspaper also claimed that Messi set up a tax fraud network. El Confidencial is one of 107 news organizations in 78 countries working with the ICIJ.

Messi's legal representatives sent a statement to CNN calling his involvement "false and slanderous."

"In response to the news release by various media outlets in which Lionel Messi is attributed to 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 statement read.

This is the second active investigation into the extolled athlete's financial practices. Messi and his father, Jorge, are due in court May 31 for allegedly withholding $4.5 million in taxes dating as far back as 2007.

FC Barcelona, Messi's European club, assured their star striker and his fans that they would support him in any way possible, including "all of its judicial means, fiscal and administrative."


On Tuesday, less than 48 hours after allegations surfaced, Messi suited up for the Catalans in their Champions League quarterfinal match with Atletico Madrid.

Spanish Oscar Winner Listed

Award-winning director Pedro Almodovar is listed for a now-defunct company he and his brother, Agustin, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands 25 years ago. Pedro won an Oscar in 2003 for his screenplay "Habla con ella," which was made into the 2002 English-language film "Talk to Her."

Agustin told El Confidencial that Glen Valley Corporation shut its doors because the firm "did not fit with our way of working," adding that he deeply regrets damage to Pedro's image. He said all tax obligations were met, but it's unclear whether the company ever held any funds.

The brothers were preparing for a press junket around their new film, Julieta, when news broke. In a tweet, Agustin said the event was cancelled due to mounting "pressure" of the Panama Papers.

Notable Politicians and Celebrities Named

World leaders like Syria President Bashar al-Assad and Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnalugson are referenced, and Russia President Vladimir Putin's judo master and spokesman are accused of funneling funds to a billion-dollar money laundering ring.

Putin isn't directly linked to the Panama Papers, but the Kremlin's influence is apparent. ICIJ documents show that his close friends, Sergei Doldugin and Yuri Kovalchuk, were "cashiers" who disguised payments and gained influence among Russia's bigger media and automotive companies.

The Kremlin dismissed the report as a smear campaign, suggesting that journalists behind the investigation are former U.S. state department and CIA officials.

One of the more conspicuous names to appear is Jackie Chan. The martial arts star owns six companies managed through Mossack Fonseca, though there is no evidence he conducted his businesses improperly.