The FIFA World Cup 2026 is just around the corner, and the world is buzzing with excitement. But did you know that some of the biggest names in football have stunning tattoos that are almost as iconic as their moves on the soccer field? From family tributes to faith-based messages, these body art pieces are a reflection of their personalities and values.
Lionel Messi, the Argentine captain, has a collection of tattoos that include a portrait of his mother, Jesus Christ, and tributes to his sons. His right arm features a rose window inspired by Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Família, while his arm also sports rosary beads outlining his hometown of Rosario.
Neymar Jr, one of football's most heavily tattooed stars, has over 40 tattoos that feature faith-based messages, family tributes, and football imagery. His collection includes his son Davi Lucca's name, the phrase Tudo Passa (Everything passes), and a pair of praying hands.
Memphis Depay, the Dutch forward, is best known for the giant lion tattoo covering most of his back. He also has a sprawling Dream Chaser tattoo across his chest, alongside several designs inspired by his Ghanaian heritage and spiritual beliefs.
Vinícius Júnior, the Brazilian forward, has immortalised four sporting icons on his body, including Michael Jordan, Pelé, Kobe Bryant, and Muhammad Ali. His left shoulder has a tattoo of the face of Jesus Christ on it.
Lucas Hernández, the French defender, has a sleek, graphic aesthetic with eagle, clockwork designs, scripts, and geometric patterns dominating his body art. His brother James Hernández also has tattoos, but not as heavily inked as Lucas.
James Rodríguez, the Colombian midfielder, has ink celebrating his 2014 World Cup Golden Boot, alongside portraits of Jesus Christ, a winged diamond, and a banner. He also has ink dedicated to his children, commonly seen kissing his Salomé and Samuel tattoos.
Nicolás Otamendi, the Argentine defender, has a giant tattoo of Lionel Messi lifting the 2022 World Cup trophy, alongside several photorealistic TV characters across his back. His back has portraits of characters from popular TV series, including Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders, Vikings, Prison Break, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones.
David Raum, the German player, has an extensive collection of tattoos on his hands and legs with quirky quotations and one-liners. He also has a Swiss cross depicting his memorable assist against Switzerland in the European Championship group stage.
However, not all football stars have tattoos. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Luka Modrić, Son Heung-min, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Jude Bellingham, N'Golo Kanté, Mohamed Salah, and Rodri are some of the iconic figures who prefer to stay away from the ink.
