Lionel Messi Has Over 18 Tattoos: Their Meanings and Significance

Football superstar Lionel Messi is known not only for his exceptional skills on the field but also for his numerous tattoos. At 38 years old, Messi has 18 distinct tattoo designs inked on his body.

Various international media outlets report that each tattoo holds a special meaning for Messi. They serve as a kind of diary, chronicling important moments in his life. He has chosen to commemorate his family, faith, football, and love through these tattoos.

Messi began getting tattoos in 2010.

At that time, he was in Barcelona during the summer. He had a portrait tattoo of his mother—Celia Maria Cuccittini—inked on the back of his left shoulder. The tattoo clearly shows his mother’s smile.

This tattoo was a tribute to his mother, who, despite financial hardships, sent him to Barcelona to pursue his dream of becoming a footballer.

Messi has never publicly discussed his tattoos in detail. Much like his demeanor on the pitch, he remains reserved about them. Yet, these tattoos reveal many stories about his life.

After the portrait of his mother, Messi got his second major tattoo in 2012. Following the birth of his first son, Thiago, he had a tattoo of Thiago’s handprint inked on the back of his left leg. Initially, it was just the handprint, but some compared it to Maradona’s famous ‘Hand of God’.

Later, Messi added Thiago’s name alongside the handprint, conveying the message, “This is my son.”

After the birth of his second son, Mateo, his name was also added. When his third son, Ciro, was born in 2018, Messi tattooed the names and birthdates of all three sons above his right knee.

Messi’s partner and wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, also features in his tattoos. He has inked her lips, eyes, and crown on his body. Antonela herself has a crown tattoo on her right bicep, symbolizing their shared love.

Messi’s tattoos also reflect his spirituality and faith. He has a tattoo of Jesus on his right shoulder and an image of a rose window from Barcelona’s famous Sagrada Familia Church on his right elbow. Additionally, he sports a lotus flower tattoo.

The lotus flower symbolizes bringing light amid difficult circumstances. Messi’s journey has seen him overcome childhood illness and criticism to reach where he is today. He has also tattooed a clock and a rosary, which represent the importance of time and life’s progression.

His devotion to football is evident in the tattoo on his left leg, which resembles a canvas painting featuring a football, his iconic number 10 jersey, and the Barcelona club crest. The lower part of this leg has a large black ink area, covering some of his older tattoos like a sword, angel wings, and a rose.

Why Did Messi Get Tattoos?

Messi started getting tattoos as he began rising to international stardom. Since 2010, he has continuously added new tattoos to his body. Each tattoo marks a significant moment, memory, or emotion in his life. Notably, none of his tattoos serve promotional or fashion purposes.

Many athletes use tattoos to commemorate their journeys, and Messi appears to do the same by permanently marking important life events on his skin.