Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema have been acquitted on charges of soliciting an underage prostitute.
The French judge ruled there wasn't enough proof the men were aware that self-described escort Zahia Dehar, now 21, was a minor at the time, reports the Miami Herald.
Ribery's lawyer Carlo Alberto Brusa phoned his client and in tears informed him of the verdict.
"I'm very happy with the verdict. We fought for him to be cleared without any stain (on his name)," Brusa told reporters. "This acquittal is the end of a sad story, a page that's finally been turned."
The two footballers, who didn't attend the trial, had faced up to three years in prison if found guilty.
Dehar contends Ribery flew her to Munich as a birthday present to himself in 2009 when she was under 18. She says she lied to the players and told them she was an adult. Dehar was also not present at the trial.
Although Ribery has admitted to having sex with Dehar, he claims he did not pay her and that he did not know she was a prostitute or a minor at the time.
Read more of this Associated Press report from the Miami Herald.