2022 World Cup| Lionel Messi's Incredible Tattoos And Meanings

Barcelona talisman and football legend Lionel Messi has been tattooing several parts of his body with ink. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner now has an impressive collection of inks on his back, arms and legs, with family being a key theme throughout the artwork.

Each of his tattoos has its own meaning, uniqueness and precise details for him. Let's take a look at Lionel Messi's tattoos and their meaning. When you look at Lionel Messi, you can't help but think that tattoos are one of his favorite art forms, besides creating magic on the pitch.

• His Mother’s Portrait Tattoo

Messi's first tattoo is a portrait of his mother, Celia, located on his left shoulder blade. Messi's mother has been his spiritual support since childhood, and Messi has always been close to his mother, seeing her as a lucky charm to help him achieve his dreams. To show his love and respect for his mother, Messi has her portrait tattooed on his back.

His mother Celia and his brother Matias manage his charitable trust, the "Leo Messi Foundation", which was established in 2007 to help children at risk.

• Handprint Tattoo

When Messi became a father for the first time in 2012, he had the handprint of his newborn baby boy "Thiago" tattooed on his left calf muscle as a symbol of fatherhood. At the time, he even missed training to be with Antonella at the birth of their son. He announced Thiago's birth on his Facebook- “Today I am the happiest man in the world, my son was born and thanks to God for this gift! Thanks to my family for the support! A hug to everyone”

• Thiago Tattoo

Initially Messi put his son's handprint on a beautiful heart-shaped tattoo to express his fatherly love and affection for his newborn son Thiago, but there were rumors that the hands represented "Maradona's hand of God" goal, so Leo later added his son Thiago's name within the heart-shaped handprint tattoo.

• Football Tattoo

Messi's dominant left leg has made him a legend, and fans who have watched him play know that he has scored many goals with his left foot over the years. Today, Messi is considered the best footballer in the world and one of the greatest players of all time, and to show his respect and feelings for his one and only passion, he has a football tattooed on the top of his left calf.

The lower part of his left leg is tattooed mainly in black ink, which is because that his previous tattoos, a dagger with wings and a red rose are covered up. Here's a little tidbit, Messi put the left calf of the tattoo re-planning design in addition to retaining his son's handprint and symbolize his shirt number in Barca and Argentina, the other patterns are irregular geometric black color block to cover up.

• 10 Tattoo

The number 10 is the jersey number of Lionel Messi for "FC Barcelona" and "Argentina National Football",Now, all he has on his left leg is a handprint, the number 10 and a soccer tattoo.

• Rose Window Tattoo

On Messi's right elbow, you can see a rose window modeled after Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia Church, decorated with a budding red rose, a pink lotus flower and orange blossoms. He always celebrates by pointing to the sky after scoring a goal. The tattoo, which pays homage to Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, is perfectly placed, with the point of his elbow being the center of the church and the windows inside the cathedral.

The sun-shaped pattern on his right elbow was conceived from the window of the Holy Family Cathedral, showing Messi's love for the city of Barcelona, for why he chose the church's window as a tattoo, his tattoo artist gave this explanation: "Barcelona is where his dream began and also where he belongs, his second home he used such a tattoo to express his love for the city's love."

• Crown Tattoo

This is a couple's tattoo of Lionel Messi and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo, who also has a "crown" tattoo on her arm.

On the inside of their right arms, the couple has the matching crown tattoos of the King and Queen on their respective bodies. These symbolize their strong love for each other: she is his queen and he is her king.

• Jesus tattoo

Messi showed off his right arm tattoo after topping the Champions League with Barcelona in May 2015

The tattoo, which features the head of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, demonstrates Messi’s devout Catholicism, and is a tribute to Messi's religious beliefs and his undeniable faith rooted in Christianity.

• Rosary Tattoo

The rosary beads tattooed on Messi's right forearm form an outline of his hometown of Rosario, a tribute to his homeland. Messi's tattoo artist, Roberto Lopez, explained that the original purpose was to create a rosary that depicts his life story through different images. In addition to this tattoo, maps of South America and Europe tattoos were inked.

Roberto said that “A clock and a part of the mechanism of Cronos, God of time. The flower of lotus, according to culture, means that no matter where you come from when you least expect it one day you will bloom. The cocoon of that flower represents the son.”

• Lotus tattoo

The lotus flower tattoo on the right arm is a symbol of rebirth, new beginnings, purity and enlightenment. Leo Messi's story is also one that leads you to follow your dreams and live life to the fullest.

• Birthday Tattoo

In 2018, Messi got the birthdays of the loves of his life tattooed on his right leg above his ankle: his three sons and his wife Antonella, Thiago's on November 2, 2012, Mateo's on September 11, 2015, Ciro's on March 10, 2018, and his wife Anonella's on February 26, 1988.

• Eye Tattoo

Messi's "Eye of Antonella" tattoo on the inside of his biceps on his right arm. Messi put his wife Antonella's eye on his arm to show his love for his wife at first sight, and the couple got married on June 30, 2017.

• Clocks & Gears tattoo

A classic pocket watch surrounded by clockwork gears occupies the space on Messi's forearm, showing that he is well aware of the relentless march of time. Despite the many achievements he has reached in his illustrious career, time is still the most valuable thing one can spend in a lifetime.

• Lip Tattoo

It is a tattoo of his wife Antonella's lip, located below the football star's waistline. The couple began dating in 2008 and tied the knot in 2017 after nearly 10 years of dating. Now, they have three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.

• Mateo tattoo

Messi got this tattoo on his right arm after the birth of his second son Mateo in 2015, which is tattooed vertically on the left side of a portrait of Jesus. Most of the tattoos on Messi's body are dedicated to his family, expressing his love and care for each and every one of them.