25 Best Tattoos in World Football

Since the turn of the century, the art of marking one’s skin has quickly grown from an obscure irregularity undertaken amongst certain sections of society to a much more universally accepted mode of expression.

This once, and sometimes still outlandish approach to skincare is as evident in the sector of sport as much as any other, with players across the globe choosing to ink up for the world to see.

Tattoos are, in essence, a mode of art, and so, can be interpreted differently depending on who may be perusing the canvas.

Here, we’ll take a look at the best tattoos in world football, and whether you’re a fan or not, nobody can argue against some of the confidence required to mark one’s body with some of the following illustrations.

If you feel that what’s looked upon here as “beautiful” or “interesting” could be interpreted as otherwise, make your feelings known and make your suggestions as to who you think may have been left out.

25. Sergio Aguero: Right Forearm

Although writing or scripture has become a very common type of tattoo to have done in recent times, it’s the uniqueness in which people get these kinds of imprints that really allows them to stand out.

As such, foreign languages are a popular way of making what could be a boring tattoo more unique.

Sergio Aguero chose to not only get his nickname, “Kun Agüero," tattooed on his right forearm in a language other than his own, but in a fictional text at that, choosing the mythical language of Tengwar.

Tengwar was the language used and spoken by the Elven race of J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, adding a cool twist to what is otherwise just the player’s name.

Along with the Argentine, former Atlético Madrid teammate Fernando Torres and also, Sergio Ramos and Santi Cazorla have chosen to have tattoos in the Tengwar language on their bodies, adding a kind of cult vibe to this fantasy niche.

24. Francesco Totti: Right Shoulder

Known as The Gladiator by some and the King of Rome by others, there’s a reason that Francesco Totti is so respected in the Serie A standings and has racked up over 650 appearances for Roma in the last 20 years.

The 36-year-old veteran hasn’t played for any other team in his senior career except I Lupi, showing all the bravery, compassion and, perhaps most importantly, loyalty of an ancient warrior both on and off the playing field.

How apt is it, then, that Totti should have a sword-wielding Roman soldier tattooed on the upper part of his right arm, ready to enter the fray whenever club or country call upon him.

Emotionally attached and, not to mention, pretty cool to boot, Totti’s place in the Italian scoring charts is just as safe as his spot in the tattoo rankings.

23. Jermaine Jones: Arm Sleeves

With one of the most aggressive styles of play in not just the US men's national team, but the Bundesliga as a whole, it’s only right that Jermaine Jones’ exterior is suited to match his gritty, hardcore approach.

The Schalke 04 anchorman’s torso is pretty much covered in ink, with his decorated arms being the biggest attraction of the piece.

The video above shows Jones explaining the significance of each piece, but with commemorations such as the names of his children and family, it becomes clearer that how one might play on the pitch sometimes couldn’t be further from their attitude off of it.

22. Markus Babbel: Inner-Left Bicep

Loyal to every club he's played at or managed, Babbel has a Nordic-looking warrior carrying his shield into battle, displaying previously held allegiances, including Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Hamburg and VFB Stuttgart tattooed on the inside of his left arm, which can be seen via Bundesliga.com (scroll to the bottom of the page).

The former defender lasted little more than 10 months in his most recent position as manager of Hoffenheim before he was again sacked, showing he may have been a better player than he is manager.

That being said, nobody can say that Babbel isn’t at least loyal to those he plays for, a trait that some would argue is becoming harder and harder to find.

21. Deco: Back

Having played for the world’s best and brightest, including Barcelona, Chelsea, Porto and Benfica, Deco’s piece of artistic exuberance is as elegant and inconspicuous as the passing maestro himself tends to be.

Born in Brazil but playing a decent chunk of his career in Portugal, the Geisha tattoo that accounts for a decent portion of Deco’s back is about as artistic as they come.

For sportspeople and celebrities in general, the temptation of spending money on tattoos can often lead to pointless but permanent etchings on the skin.

No problem of that kind here, though.

20. Marco Materazzi: Arms

Another player to have got so many arm tattoos that the next logical manoeuvre is only to get a sleeve, Marco Materazzi's are a tapestry telling a story of the defender's greatest moments in football.

Although Materazzi may ultimately be remembered most for being headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final, many an Italian will also acknowledge the veteran's artwork as a marker of his achievements.

Quotes in scripture, a Native Indian bangle, a Viking head, coloured skulls and gems as well as numerous other illustrations make up a montage of motivation on Materazzi's limbs.

Also, the centre-back has a huge World Cup trophy on his left quad, commemorated with the date of his side's 2006 win to remember his greatest ever victory.

19. Clint Dempsey: Left Shoulder

Saint Michael, the leader of God's armies in the catholic church, would supposedly be used to behaving as the focal point of his legion's attack against the forces of what he sees is evil.

Taking his time at Fulham as example, perhaps nowhere is there a more apt description of Clint Dempsey's role in the Cottagers squad, sometimes shouldering the weight of the team independently to lead them to victory.

Now with Tottenham, the same can't exactly be said for the US national hero, but that doesn't change the fact that the St. Michael drawn onto Dempsey's left shoulder is a beautiful example of what tattoos can represent to a person.

The religious symbol comes as part of the forward's relatively new half-sleeve and is without a doubt the most attractive thing of the whole piece.

18. Jermaine Pennant: Back

The back is the largest canvas on the human body, and therefore, the biggest opportunity to really make a statement with one’s ink.

Jermaine Pennant is one of those to latch onto such an opportunity and totally run with it after getting the fantastic set of wings that the Stoke City winger (currently on loan at Wolves) can sometimes be caught flaunting after a game.

Wings aren’t the rarest choice of tattoo these days, but can sometimes be done very, very wrong. (I’d refer you to Stephen Ireland’s example here.)

Pennant has done it right, adorning his body with a very large bit of work that still manages to maintain the intricate detail required to pull off something like this so well.

17. Guti: Left Arm Sleeve

After spending the vast majority of his career with Real Madrid, Guti Hernandez has played amongst some of the best in the business—and probably seen a ton of tattoos to boot.

In the modern game, sleeve tattoos on the arm are growing in dramatic number, but it's easy to fall into the pit of looking like everybody else, a principal that defeats the whole idea of getting something that's supposed to be so unique and personal to the wearer.

With that in mind, Guti has obviously taken note of how not to do things and steered completely clear of that mistake altogether.

With angels, clouds and a depiction of Jesus being crucified all on his left arm, it's easy to see the strong Christian influence on Guti's work of art and see that every detail means something of great significance to the now-retired Spaniard.

16. Nile Ranger: Lip

While he may not feature so grandly on the football stage, Nile Ranger is evidence that even fringe players can find recognition in their careers, albeit not for the reasons originally intended.

For Ranger, this recognition has come as a result of the striker getting a tattoo on a part of his body that he can still argue to be fairly uncommon—his lip.

WhoAteAllThePies (viewer discretion is advised) show us the extent of Ranger's smiley face tattoo which, despite hurting in its creation, will undoubtedly put a smile on the player's face whenever he sees it.

It's obvious that Newcastle's Ranger is a happy-go-lucky character to have such a tattoo done, and while it may not be the biggest or most obvious, it's certainly memorable.

15. Danny Califf: Sleeve

Having just been signed up by Toronto in the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Danny Califf will be hoping to return to the public eye in a big way when his career kicks off once again in 2013.

However, one way in which the former US international never disappeared was visually, as the defender has a beautiful pair of fully-coloured sleeves that are simply too mesmerising to be ignored.

14. Wesley Sneijder: Ribs

To have an extract of writing or a particular pattern drawn onto one's body is one thing, but to have someone's face tattooed on is a type of tribute falling into a completely different spectrum.

For there to be someone in Wesley Sneijder's life to have such an impact on his life that he feels compelled to etch an image of their face onto his ribs is a massive sign of respect.

The ribs are supposedly the most painful place to have a tattoo done and are, as such, used most commonly for tributes, to show the sacrifice the wearer is going through to remember such a cause.

In addition, whoever the woman is that Sneijder has had drawn upon him has been done by an incredibly deft hand in beautiful detail, a vital factor when getting a tattoo of this sort.

13. Eljero Elia: Chest

When your tattoos go as far to spark a team into placing a ban on all tattoos, you at least know that the work you've had done is having an impact, if nothing else.

Such was the case for Eljero Elia when, after hearing that one of his tattoos had gone septic, Werder Bremen put a ban on their players getting tattoos in the fear that it may hamper their performance.

As the Daily Mail will show, the Dutch winger has a fantastic piece of ink across his chest that appears to illustrate a winged cherub with a name in tribute placed above, along with a piece of writing below.

12. Edson Braafheid: Chest and Arm

Having bounced about the German, Dutch and Scottish leagues for the past five years, Edson Braafheid has struggled to maintain a stretch of top-flight form and has failed to establish his reputation as a pretty good defender as a result.

However, while the full-back may not have capitalised on his time with Bayern Munich or made an impact as a Celtic favourite, Braafheid has found the time to get some great tattoos, which can be seen here, courtesy of BILD.

11. Daniele De Rossi: Calf

Italy is the location of numerous memorable tattoos, and along with his Roma teammate, Francesco Totti, it's another Rome veteran, Daniele De Rossi, that manages to make our countdown.

The Italian stalwart has always taken a no-holds-barred approach to his game, and what better way to tell the opposition exactly what your tactics are than by drawing them a simple diagram.

De Rossi's "Hazard: Tackles Imminent" tattoo is comical but also logical, as he proceeds to give opponents a heads-up on exactly what comes next. (via WhoAteAllThePies.tv. Viewer discretion is advised for profanity on the page.)

10. Alessandro Diamanti: Calf

Another Italian international, another great calf tattoo, this time courtesy of Alessandro Diamanti, Daniele De Rossi's midfield teammate.

Although his socks may cover it the majority of the time, the Associated Press (h/t ItalianSoccerSerieA.com) managed to get a glimpse of Diamanti's smiley face tattoo at Euro 2012.

Like Nile Ranger's lip edition, Diamanti's happy-go-lucky ink shows that he's carefree, and anyone who watched the attacker during his West Ham stint will know that's exactly true both on and off the pitch.

9. Diego Maradona: Right Shoulder

A controversial figure in his playing days, Diego Maradona has ensured that he will remain as such among at least a certain demographic of people thanks to the portrait of Argentine revolutionary, Che Guevara, he has on his right shoulder (via BBC Sport).

Obviously holding the Marxist guerrilla leader, or at least some of his ideologies, in high regard, Maradona felt strongly enough about Guevara to have his face permanently plastered on his skin for all to see, a gutsy move on his behalf.

While some may contend such a decision, there's no arguing against the passion Maradona has, which obviously transcended his playing style and into his political beliefs.

8. Dani Alves: Left Arm Sleeve

Although the Brazilian utility has both of his arms fully tattooed, it's the left that brings about the most beautiful piece, yet again displaying how spirituality can have a profound effect on sport.

For Alves, the forearm portion of his left arm shows off a delicately detailed visage of Jesus Christ, complete with a shining heart in the centre of his chest.

South America has always been a hub of Catholic belief, and Alves' symbol is an in-your-face way of showing exactly what gives him strength.

7. David Beckham: Upper Back

One of the most iconic tattoos in world football, David Beckham can perhaps be looked upon as a pioneer in tattoos becoming so accepted amongst the masses.

Along with the names of two of his sons, Romeo and Cruz, Beckham's back is decorated with a winged figure that appears to be on a cross of some sort, linking up with the winged cross that can be seen on the midfielder's neck above.

One of the most adored figures in football, the current free agent could said to have ameliorated the rest of the world with the idea of putting ink to skin, nudging the thought into mainstream usage.

6. Raul Meireles: Back

As the Daily Mail will tell you, Raul Meireles joined a very specific group of tattoo hierarchy when he got a back piece to be respected, showcasing a sprawling Chinese-style dragon full of vibrant colour and flair.

Although his Chelsea tenure didn't go all to plan, Meireles is granted respect for his artwork, if for nothing else.

5. Lionel Messi: Left Shoulder Blade

Sure, he may break football records for fun, with the most recent of which being for most goals scored in a calendar year, but that doesn't mean Lionel Messi is a machine devoid of emotion, no matter how fitting that may seem.

It recently became clear that Messi still has place for a parenting figure in his life, and the godly figure confirmed that he was indeed born of mankind after having an image of his mother tattooed on his shoulder blade.

The Metro reported on this groundbreaking news after the three-time Ballon d'Or winner was snapped taking a break in Ibiza.

4. Djibril Cissé: Body

Take your pick.

Leopard spots, floral designs, tribal patterns, a pair of wings on his back, stars and the names of all his children are just some of the aspects contributing to the piece of art that has become Djibril Cissé.

The Frenchman isn't quite covered in ink, but if there's anyone to be challenging for the honour, not just in the Premier League but the whole world, it's Cissé.

The truth is that there's simply too much going on to pick out one standout piece, so I'll leave you to be the judges.

3. Daniel Agger: Right Knuckles

On a torso that's so utterly saturated in ink, it would be hard to imagine that a location as small as the knuckles of Daniel Agger could host what is possibly the most sentimental piece of all.

However, after being linked with a move away from Anfield over the summer, the Danish international decided that the permanent link between him and Liverpool via tattooing could put the right message across and show his love for the club.

Speaking to the official Liverpool channel (via Daily Mail), Agger says that: "I'd thought about it for a long time. I feel a part of this club - and I feel a part of this city. I have been here so long now, so it was an easy decision."

Of course, we're ignoring the other, bigger pieces of art that Agger has on his body, such as a Viking graveyard covering the entirety of his back as well as some very colourfully detailed sleeves, but it's not size that matters, it's how you put it to use.

Small? Maybe. Significant? Massively.

2. Natasha Kai: Body

Born of Hawaiian, Filipino and Chinese descent, it's fairly easy to see that Natasha Kai's tattoos take some influence from her heritage and the type of artwork often used in those parts of the world.

In the center of her back, Kai has the Kanji translation for the word "Belief" and has Mauri-style sleeve tattoos on each of her arms as well as designs down the length of her life.

So, it's fair to say that the Olympic gold medal winner's exterior is suited for her tough mentality on the field. 

1. Raul Bobadilla: Chest

When broken down to their foundations, tattoos are about sentiment, symbolism and sacrificing parts of one's body to display something that you truly hold close to your heart.

"

Young Boys' striker Raul Bobadilla has parents tattooed on chest. Sweet, but must be weird when he gets intimate twitter.com/Marcotti/statu…

"

"— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) November 8, 2012"

As Gabriele Marcotti points out, Raúl Bobadilla's chest piece might get in the way of his intimate endeavours, but the striker's willingness to show the love he holds for his parents is truly heartwarming.

In modern football, players are paid so much, and it's easy to forget that almost all players once started out as nothing but a child with a dream, initially supported by their parents, something Bobadilla has clearly not forgotten.

The Young Boys forward can often be seen grasping at his shirt to show the portraits after scoring a goal, completely prepared to accept a yellow card in favour of showing his appreciation for those he loves most.

You can follow me on Twitter @TomSunderland_