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Away from the football pitch, many of the renowned footballers choose to engage in different activities that interest them including getting tattoos. Many are involved with modelling, piqued by affinity for vehicles, accessories etc.
However, a select few are engrossed in the world of art and are fans of respective ink pieces. Here, we take a look at some of football’s most tattooed stars.
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Lionel Messi
Arguably football’s greatest export from South America, Lionel Messi is also one that has opted to get the ink on skin.
Since taking inspiration from teammate Dani Alves to get a first back in 2012, Messi boasts a plethora of designs to himself.
The Argentinian dons 17 different tattoos each with its own unique peculiarity and meaning. Depicting his relationship with his mother, place of birth, family, his wife, religion and the joy of fatherhood.
Neymar
Brazilian star player Neymar is another that falls on this list. Neymar’s body is a work of art showcasing tens of ink pieces. His sister, famous for the usual “Neymar getting injured in March to attend her birthday” conspiracy is inked on his right shoulder. His left arm also has her name in tandem with a diamond tattoo.
Other ink pieces include a prayer for his father on his chest, the roman numeral IV, a bird tattoo as well as the inscriptions “Blessed” and “Never ending love” amongst others.
Dani Alves
Standing as one of football’s most decorated players racking up over 40 trophies in his playing days, Alves also collects an array of tattoos.
A map of his hometown in synchrony with how a young lad from the favela rose to football’s highest stage.
His ink ideas are rounded up on his personal achievements and very successful football career. He also depicts his love for children and family with some of the others.
Sergio Ramos
The former Real Madrid captain is one who prioritizes family and the game. His plethora of tattoos have different symbolisms and peculiarities.
His knuckles brandish a play on numbers with the figures “35, 32, 19) and +90 (the time of his injury time champions league final goal) etched in. Also, his left calf gives memory to his champions league triumph over the years. He also has inks in reverence to his mother Paqui and wife Pilar Rubio.
Inscriptions such as “A Lion Never Loses Over The Opinion Of The Sheep” and “Only Those Who Went Hungry With Me And Stood By Me Will Eat At My Table” also features around his body.
Memphis Depay
Former Manchester United and Dutch forward Memphis Depay has one of the most intriguing tattoos you’ll ever see.
The entirety of his back is covered by a courageous lion’s face in ink.
The reason for such he explains to be “I always had a feeling that I have been brought up in the jungle. I was always outside, I have been to rough areas and I have been through rough times. Also, the lion is for me, ‘the king of the jungle’, and I always stayed on my feet even though it was rough'”.
The tattoo depicts a strong mentality to always get back on the feet no matter the obstacle or challenge.
Danielle De Rossi
De Rossi, who is now coach of his native AS Roma where he served as captain for years.
De Rossi is one who has a penchant for artwork with his body totally covered in them.
One that’s piqued public interest is the one on his calf. It shows a player being dealt a heavy tackle by an opposition as he looks to get to the ball. A worthy description of De Rossi’s no-nonsense style of football in his playing days.
David Beckham
Beckham stayed as the English football posterboy for years. The former midfielder boasts almost half a century of tattoos, minimalist pieces and others otherwise.
Beckham has ink pieces on either arm showcasing his dedicated marriage to Victoria.
On the left side of his body is a tattoo in Chinese symbols depicting the saying “Death and life have determined appointments”.
He also pays tribute to his father with the tattoo of a ship at full mast. His sons are represented with the angelic like tattoo on his back showing he stays as their protector.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The former Paris Saint-Germain star admitted he wasn’t initially sold by the idea of tattoos branding them bad taste. Now he has tattoos paying tribute to his father, his sons in arabic font.
The women in his life also have inks in regards to them. His wife Helena Seger, mother Jurka and sister Sanela. The red dragon, a grey koi fish and Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Vitruvian Man’ are also others featured on his body.
In 2015, the former Swede international explained he covered his body in temporary tattoos to raise awareness for the United Nations’ World Food Programme. He explained “Wherever I go people recognise me, call my name, cheer me,” the charismatic striker added. “But there are names no one cheers for. If I could, I would write every single name on my body. But there are 805 million people suffering from hunger in the world today … So whenever you hear my name, you will think of their names. Whenever you see me, you will see them.”
Daniel Agger
Former Liverpool player Daniel Agger is also one who fell in love with the artistic world of tattoos.
Hailing from Denmark, Agger got his first ever tattoo aged 15-years and has since gone on to attach various ink pieces across his body.
His calves have the words “Mom” and “Dad” encapsulated inside hearts on either leg. A necklace tat hangs from his neck to lower chest.
Other ink shows feature his period with the Danish national team, Brondby and Liverpool.
After leaving the game, Agger followed up his passion by becoming a qualified tattoo artist. Also reportedly investing in a global brand named Tattoodo.
Tim Howard
Howard who stars as an integral part of the USMNT over the last two decades combined his love of the game with artistic impressions. He even had a spell in the media attention as he was learning to become a tattoo artist showing his safe hands went past just the goal but even with the tattoo gun.
Howard showcases about 49 tattoos in all. His left thigh features different face portraits of people he says have been important to his life. Across his chest he has the Roman numerals “MLXXIX MMVII MMV”.
More ink notations include a skull, spider web, a star, the crucifix and the inscription “I’ll love you till China and Africa meet And the river jumps over the mountain And the salmon sing in the street”. Lyrics from a poem by W. H. Auden.
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