Out of Play

The 20 most unusual footballer tattoos

Top level footballers are best known for their fancy footwork, flashy cars and extravagant hairstyles.

But with all the cash that comes with being a worldwide superstar, footballers are littering their body in tattoos – and some of them are incredibly peculiar.

From bizarre tributes to dodgy designs, there’s a wide range of eye-catching body art on show around the world.

We’ve searched intently and put together the definitive list of weird and wacky ink.

Here’s who we found – and remember, some of these are PERMANENT…

*shudders*

That’s right Leo, you’ve made the list… (Image: AFP)

1. Alberto Moreno

Some times Liverpool left-back Moreno’s bespectacled monkey holding a gun is perplexing.

The thigh tattoo is an enigma in meaning and taste.

Moreno only made 18 appearances for the Reds this season, with rumours abound that that is about hiding this monstrosity rather than his awful form.

Monkey business (Image: Instagram/franco_tattoo)

2. Andres D’Alessandro

Some people get tattoos of their other half, children or even pets – but a tat of your own face is just plain weird.

Just in case his onlookers can’t look all of two foot higher, the former Portsmouth man has plastered his own mug on his torso.

Even if you are the most handsome bloke in the world, which with all respect to D’Alessandro he ain’t, this is just wrong.

‘My ego is *this* big’ (Image: Instagram/@vertigemtattoos)

3. Alessandro Diamanti

At a cursory glance at Diamanti’s arms and you would think he is the king of an Italian prison.

On a closer look you notice his tats are the doodles of a teenage girl bored in double maths.

Smiley faces, peace signs, pool balls and random stars – all fine on their own but together not great.

Scribbles
Happy smiley people (Image: Reuters)

4. Ryan Mason

When a fan spotted this horror show during an England match he took to Twitter to ask why Mason “had a tattoo of his face when he was 12?”

The bicep blip is of what we presume is his mother – but it isn’t very flattering.

First rule of tattoos: don’t get tattoos of faces.

A 12 year old boy?

5. Uros Vitas

“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear” – as the Chuckle Brothers once said.

This is the most terrifying tattoo on this list.

Why? Well look at it! It’s a stretched out version of his wife’s face, ON HIS TORSO.

Again, see the first rule of tattoos.

6. John Stones

Stones has been showcasing his brand new tattoo of a middle-aged man wearing glasses throughout this season.

It has been reported that the tattoo depicts Barnsley legend Norman Rimmington, who passed away on December 26 last year at the age of 90.

A nice sentiment indeed if that is the case, but it remains one of the more bizarre pieces of bodywork you’ll see – especially on the upper leg.

Throwing the claim that the tattoo is Rimmington into doubt, is the fact that the face appears to be accompanied by that of a woman’s.

It has been suggested that the black and white portrait could therefore depict family members of the England international.

Stones’ leg tattoo was spotted during England vs Brazil (Image: PA Wire)

7. Amato Ciciretti

Rule two of tattoos: don’t get a tattoo of something which WILL go out of date.

This rule extends from girlfriends to memes.

Putting your Twitter handle on your body is utterly ridiculous – even more odd when you are a nobody playing in Italian second tier.

Make sure you follow (Image: Twitter/@Ciciretti)

8. Sergio Ramos

Tattoos need to be personal, have a nice meaning behind them.

But ideally they would be intelligible for someone who has at least a passing knowledge in you should know.

This from Real Madrid’s last minute wonder needs a special tool to decipher.

Apparently Ramos had both 32 and 35 as shirt numbers when he was at Sevilla. He was 19 when he made his Spain debut. The 90 is still a mystery as far as we can tell.

Handy (Image: Instagram/sr4oficial)

9. Damien Delaney

Clowns are scary. It is a scientific fact.

Clown tattoos are really not scary.

This from Crystal Palace’s Delaney is definitely one of the worst in the Premier League.

Clowning around (Image: David Klein/Sport Image)

10. Artur Boruc

Oh no, we were very wrong about Delaney’s clown being the worst tattoo in the Premier League.

Bournemouth’s holy goalie Boruc out does him with a monkey – with the Pole’s belly button being the *ahem* backside of the cheeky mammal.

To be honest we did have a little bit of a chuckle about this but that doesn’t mean it isn’t poor.

Making an a*** of yourself (Image: Rangers FC via PA)

11. Dennis Erdmann

If you are playing in the German third tier for Hansa Rostock you really need something to raise your profile.

Defender Erdmann did just that by getting a kiss from his girlfriend tattooed on his neck.

Unless you are standing right next to him it just looks suspiciously like he has the bubonic plague.

His father is a professor of experimental physics and diplomat and seemingly hogged all the brain cells.

Kissing shame (Image: Bongarts)

12. Marco Materazzi

What catches the eye first in this picture is the wings on Materazzi’s back. They are actually quite cool.

But avert you eyes slightly right and you see a stack of trainers.

WHY!?!

Just looks like a poor sponsor’s idea.

Just do it* *actually don’t (Image: Getty)

13. Jay Bothroyd

Everyone’s famous one-time England international who has also played in Thailand and Japan.

On first sight this is a horrific mix of guns, grenades and knives.

In reality it is much much worse than that – as it spells out the world “love”.

No idea why he looks so smug of it in this snap.

Love is all you need* *no it isn’t

14. Alberto Gilardino

We like to think of Champions League and World Cup winners as above rubbish tattoos.

But no, Italy, AC Milan, Fiorentina and a whole host of other top Italian sides, man Gilardino proves that idea wrong.

Even worse it is a tat of a children’s TV character.

Yes, you might have a daughter, and yes, Peppa Pig is brilliant, but this is not acceptable.

Pigging it (Image: Getty Images Europe)

15. Ricardo Quaresma

Everyone knows teardrop tattoos signify either the amount of people you have murdered or the loss of a family member, or friend.

Quaresma has two. We hope it is for the second reason.

Anyway, this brings us to rule three: no tattoos on the face.

A crying shame (Image: AFP)

16. Nile Ranger

And this is why we have rule three – there is no reason for them. They are painful and look stupid.

We called out D’Alessandro in No.2 for putting his own face on his body, writing your own name is 10 times worse.

To make things even worse “Ranger” looks like “Ranges”.

A complete faux of biblical proportions.

Name game (Image: nilepowerranger/instagram)

17. Dele Alli

What better way to celebrate your ascent into footballing greatness than with a tattoo?

Dele Alli obviously thinks so anyway, and he’s decided to mark his fine season for Tottenham and England – as well as a second successive PFA Young Player of the Year award – by getting inked.

With what, you might ask? Maybe a lion to celebrate his status as one of England’s best young players? Or something marking one of his great goals for Spurs? Or a children’s cartoon character that you’d forgotten existed?

(Image: Twitter/SpursOfficial)

18. Leroy Sane

A tattoo of yourself is bad.

A huge tattoo of yourself on your back is worse.

But a huge tattoo of yourself on your back celebrating a goal (against Monaco) which ultimately proved pointless as Manchester City were knocked out of Europe?

That’s unforgivable.

Surely this can’t be real? Leroy Sane has a tattoo of himself on his back..

19. Lionel Messi

You know that feeling you get when you look at Lionel Messi playing football?

That one where you are consumed with awe, adoration and respect?

Looking at Lionel Messi’s tattoos don’t give you that same feeling. In fact, the body art of the world’s greatest player is now more likely to make you cringe.

Check out his latest effort: a new tattoo of his wife’s lips… near his groin.

Loved up Leo (Image: CEN/Instagram/leomessi)

Messi has got his wife Antonella Rocuzzo’s lips tattooed on the lower part of his abs, just above his groin.

The forward reportedly got the new ink in the summer and it is said to symbolise how he will always have his wife’s kiss with him wherever he goes.

A lovely sentiment… which doesn’t change the fact that it’s largely awful.

20. Mauro Icardi

We thought we’d save the best until last.

Check out this full body lion from Argentinian international Icardi, which he had completed earlier this year.

The Inter Milan star already had his arms covered, but he’s upgraded with a giant lion, alongside the names of his two daughters.

When he revealed the finished product, he said that it took nearly half a year to complete.

And he hinted that it could yet get even more extravagant… but we’re really not sure how that is even possible!

(Image: Instagram/mauroicardi)
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