Lionel Messi’s tattoos are very popular among football fans. The back, elbow, arm, or leg of La Pulga are covered with more than 15 tattoos and some of the tattoos have stories and deep meaning behind them while some are inked just for fun.
Tattoos have become the trendsetters and fashion style in modern football with many players getting under the needle to get inked. Messi is not the only footballer, there many great players like David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic who have several tattoos on their bodies.
What Do Lionel Messi’s Tattoos Mean?
The 6 time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi has 18 tattoos on his entire body and all his tattoos have some significant meaning behind them.
His mother’s face tattoo on back
Leo Messi’s first-ever tattoo is the face of his mother inked on the left side of his back. He regards his mother as his inspiration and as a token of love and respect for her, got his mother’s face tattooed in 2010.
Handprint’s tattoo
Messi became a father for the first time his son Thiago was born in 2012. To celebrate Thiago’s birth, Messi got a tattoo of his son’s handprints on his left calf.
Thiago tattoo
There was confusion regarding his handprints tattoo as many people interpreted it as Diego Maradona’s Hand of God tattoo. Thus, to clear off the confusion, Messi inked his son’s name beneath the handprint tattoo.
Number 10 tattoo
Messi has a number 10 tattoo engraved on his shin. The number is his jersey number for his club Barcelona and national team Argentina.
Football Tattoo
A small football tattoo is present on Messi’s left leg.
Black tattoo
Messi’s bottom-left leg is covered in black ink. The ink is plain and the purpose is to hide his previous dagger tattoo which he had on the leg.
Names tattoo
Messi tattooed his right foot’s shin with the names and birth dates of his wife Antonella and all his three sons; Thiago, Matteo, and Ciro in 2018.
Jesus’ tattoo
Messi’s right upper arm has a tattoo of Jesus which signifies Messi’s faith and religion i.e., Christianity.
Lotus
Lotus tattoo just beneath Jesus Christ tattoo on his right hand symbolizes purity, rebirth.
Rose Window
A tattoo of Rose’s window is found on his elbow. The window belongs to Sagrada Familia basilica church in Barcelona and shows Messi’s love for the city of Barcelona.
Crown
Messi has a small crown tattoo on his arm. This is his only couple’s tattoo as his wife Antonella has the same tattoo on her.
Clock
Messi has a giant clock inked on his right arm. The clock signifies the value and importance of time.
Clock Cogs tattoo
The clock cogs tattoo surrounds his giant clock tattoo.
Eye tattoo
Inside of Messi’s bicep has a tattoo of his wife Antonella’s eye. This is to pay further tribute to the love of Messi’s life.
Rosary Tattoo
This tattoo pays homage to Lionel Messi’s hometown Rosario in Argentina.
Lip tattoo
Messi has a tattoo of his wife Antonella’s lips on his upper groin region.
Matteo tattoo
Messi has the name of his second kid, Mateo inked on his right hand.