Footballers are filthy rich, high-profile celebrities with massive global fan bases. Most spend their fortunes leading luxurious lifestyles, while others spend it on their bodies by modifying their hair or applying ink to their torsos. Mostly, the best footballers’ tattoos have symbolic meanings, and modern-day players take pride in inking themselves.
Best footballer tattoos: Which soccer player has the best ink?. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli, Chris Ricco (Modified by author) Source: Getty Images
Famous football players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Sergio Aguero, and Lionel Messi have tattoos on several parts of their bodies. Some tattoos have a story worth telling and may represent a memorable period or a particular person.
Top 10 best footballer tattoos
Tattoos come in different designs and structures; some soccer stars have artists who ink them to their satisfaction. According to various online sources, SportsBrief has compiled a list of the top 10 best footballers’ tattoos.
10. Djibril Cissé
Lazio’s French forward Djibril Cissé celebrates at the end of the Europa league group D football match SS Lazio vs SCP Sporting at Olympic stadium in Rome on 14 December 2011. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli Source: Getty Images
Cissé is a world-class striker who has played for several clubs, including Liverpool and Lazio. He won the Champions League and the FIFA Confederation Cup with the Merseysideiders and the French national team.
He is one of the most tattooed footballers worldwide, with over 40 tattoos covering most parts of his body. The famous striker has two black angel wings on his back, and across his body are his children and tributes to relatives with tribal connotations.
| Full name | Djibril Cissé |
| Date of birth | 12 August 1981 |
| Age | 41 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Arles, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Current team | Panathinaikos Chicago |
| Most pronounced ink | A pair of black angel wings |
9. Thierry Henry
Detail View of Thierry Henry’s tattoos prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between Belgium and Tunisia at Spartak Stadium on 23 June 2018 in Moscow, Russia. Photo: Matthew Ashton Source: Getty Images
The former Arsenal top striker is best known for making the Gunners one of the best clubs in the world. He took home numerous Golden Boots at the Emirates and with the French national team.
The legend has a tattoo on his arm representing the Empire State Building to commemorate his time with the New York Red Bulls. New York’s Brooklyn Bridge and an image of his daughter are also tattooed on his body.
| Full name | Thierry Daniel Henry |
| Date of birth | 17 August 1977 |
| Age | 45 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Les Ulis, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Current team | Retired |
| Most pronounced ink | The Empire State building |
8. Lionel Messi
A tattoo is seen on Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s back following a training session at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on 5 September 2011. Photo: Munir Uz Zaman Source: Getty Images
Messi is regarded as the best football player in the world and the greatest of all time. He is a walking work of art which has played for the world’s most famous clubs and the Argentine national team and won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The world-class player took his time before getting his first ink in 2012 after being inspired by Dani Alves. He has since been seen with several tattoos that are primarily personal and symbolic to him.
Among Messi’s tattoos is his mother’s portrait on his back and a handprint of his son on his left calf with the name of his son Matteo. The rest are about his career, apart from one that depicts Jesus with the crown of thorns.
| Full name | Lionel Andrés Messi |
| Date of birth | 24 June 1987 |
| Age | 35 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Current team(s) | Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national team |
| Most pronounced ink | His mother’s portrait |
7. Zlatan Ibrahimović
A detailed view of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s inked back during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium on 22 May 2022 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. Photo: Chris Ricco Source: Getty Images
Zlatan is a world-class player who has played for some of the biggest clubs across Europe. His confidence, talent, and self-belief are the most powerful weapons that have kept him going all these years.
Initially, he was against tattoos but later became an addict, and almost every part of his body is now covered in ink. He has a tattoo on his right wrist, Zlatan Ibrahimović code, which are numbers of his male family members.
The letter H on his left wrist represents his wife Helena, and the red dragon depicts his warrior spirit. Most of Zlatan’s tattoos are family-based, apart from the red dragon and the lion covering his back.
| Full name | Zlatan Ibrahimović |
| Date of birth | 3 October 1981 |
| Age | 41 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Malmö, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Current team | AC Milan |
| Most pronounced ink | Lion on his back |
6. Neymar
Neymar Jr is seen on the beach with Bianca Biancardi on 11 June 2022 in Miami, Florida. Photo: Mega Source: Getty Images
The Brazilian international is one of the most marketable strikers in the world. His body is covered with over 40 tattoos that are personal to him, some depicting words of wisdom, motivation, and achievements like the Champions League victories and trophies.
Almost every place in Neymar’s skin is covered in ink containing messages that have deep meaning and stories to tell. He has over five tattoos that directly reference his sister Rafaella. The rest refer to his son, mother, father, and batman, among others.
| Full name | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior |
| Date of birth | 5 February 1992 |
| Age | 31 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Current team | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Most pronounced ink | His sister |
5. Kevin-Prince Boateng
Kevin Prince Boateng celebrates scoring his penalty during the FA Cup semi-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth on 11 April 2010. Photo: Ian Kington Source: Getty Images
Boateng is one of the world’s best footballers who has been covered with controversies. He has played for big clubs such as Barcelona and AC Milan and internationally for the Ghana national team.
Kevin Prince has 33 tattoos spread all over his body. One of them is a lion on his right foot depicting his courageous and dominant attitude, and on his left arm, his tribute to his African roots and heritage. He has one of the best tattoos in football that reference musical notes.
| Full name | Kevin-Prince Boateng |
| Date of birth | 6 March 1987 |
| Age | 36 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Berlin, West Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Current team | Hertha BSC |
| Most pronounced ink | A lion |
4. Dani Alves
Shirtless tattooed Dani Alves of PSG following the French Ligue 1 match against Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at Parc des Princes on 17 September 2017 in Paris. Photo: Jean Catuffe Source: Getty Images
Dani has over 40 trophies in his cabinet and is considered the most decorated European footballer in history. He has played for big clubs such as Barcelona, Sevilla, PSG, and Juventus and has come out with significant trophies.
The famous footballer has nine tattoos spread across his body. On his chest and torso, he has tattooed his children’s birthdays, and on his right shoulder, a portrait of his mother, among other symbolic ones like the Olympic rings.
| Full name | Daniel Alves da Silva |
| Date of birth | 6 May 1983 |
| Age | 39 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Current team | Retired |
| Most pronounced ink | A portrait of his mother |
3. Daniele De Rossi
The leg tattoo of Daniele De Rossi of Italy is seen during the Italy training session at the club’s training ground at Coverciano on 4 June 2016 in Florence, Italy. Photo: Claudio Villa Source: Getty Images
Danielle is a former AS Roma player who also played for the Italian national team, won the 2006 World Cup, and was considered one of the toughest defensive midfielders in the world.
The midfielder has numerous tattoos on his body, the most pronounced one being an artwork of his face inked in 2016 by artist David Cotes. He also has a tattoo depicting a hazardous warning of a tackling leg being chopped off and Teletubbies on his right calf.
| Full name | Daniele De Rossi |
| Date of birth | 24 July 1983 |
| Age | 39 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Current team | Retired |
| Most pronounced ink | An artwork of his face |
2. David Beckham
David Beckham of the LA Galaxy walks from the ground after the friendly match against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium on 6 December 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Robert Cianflone Source: Getty Images
Beckham is among the most famous footballers in the world who played for some of the biggest clubs such as Manchester United, PSG, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. He was one of the first players to embrace the paparazzi tradition experienced by footballers today.
The football legend has 55 tattoos spread all over his body, most referring to his family. His wife’s and children’s names are the most pronounced tattoos on his body, and also a display of Jesus being lifted by three Cherubs.
| Full name | David Robert Joseph Beckham |
| Date of birth | 2 May 1975 |
| Age | 47 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Current team | Retired |
| Most pronounced ink | A display of Jesus being lifted by three Cherubs. |
1. Sergio Ramos
Ramos is a world-class defender who would go down in history as one of the best defenders ever. He has proven himself worthy to Real Madrid and the Spain national team, winning numerous trophies, including the World Cup and the Champions League.
He is among the most tattooed footballers globally, with over 42 tattoos covering most body parts. Some of his tattoos symbolise a career milestone with a date and venue.
Ramos has also tattooed his wife’s name, his son’s birthday and name, and his father’s nickname, and due to his catholic faith, he also has a tattoo depicting Mary.
Sergio Ramos’ tattoos are seen as he greets the fans after the La Liga match against CD Leganes at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on 1 September 2018. Photo: Burak Akbulut Source: Getty Images
| Full name | Sergio Ramos García |
| Date of birth | 30 March 1986 |
| Age | 36 years of age as of March 2023 |
| Place of birth | Camas, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Current team | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Most pronounced ink | Mary |
