Lionel Messi Tattoos: What Each One Means

For most of his early career, Lionel Messi had no tattoos at all. Today Lionel Messi's tattoos cover his arms, back and legs, and read almost like a family photo album, with tributes to his mother, his wife and his three sons, alongside symbols of his faith.

Here is a guide to Messi's best known tattoos and what they are widely reported to mean.

His first tattoo: his mother, Celia

Messi's first tattoo, done around 2011, is a portrait of his mother, Celia Cuccittini, on his left shoulder blade. It is a fitting start. Messi has often spoken about the role his family played in his early life, from his childhood in Rosario to his move to Barcelona as a teenager.

Tributes to his sons

Thiago's name and handprints

On the back of his left calf, Messi has the name of his eldest son, Thiago, along with a pair of small handprints. Handprint tattoos are a popular way for parents to capture a child's size at a particular age.

All three sons

Messi later added tributes to all three of his sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, with their names and dates of birth, above his right ankle, keeping the family collection growing as his family did.

Tributes to his wife, Antonela

Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo have known each other since childhood in Rosario and married in 2017. He has tattoos widely reported to represent her, including an eye on his arm and a small pair of lips.

Faith and symbolism

Jesus with a crown of thorns

Messi has a large image of Jesus Christ wearing a crown of thorns on his upper arm and shoulder, generally read as a sign of his Christian faith.

The lotus flower

His arm pieces include a lotus flower. The lotus grows from mud and blooms above the water, so it is a common symbol of growth and rising through hardship, a meaning many fans connect to Messi's story, including the growth hormone treatment he needed as a child before joining Barcelona.

The black leg tattoo

One of Messi's most talked-about tattoo moments came when he covered up earlier designs on his left leg, reported to include roses and football imagery, with a large area of solid black ink. Blackout tattoos like this are one of the most effective ways to cover older work, and they have become a style in their own right. We explain the technique in our guide to tattoo styles, under blackwork.

What Messi's tattoos show about tattoo collections

• Family tributes grow over time. Messi added his sons as each arrived, a common way collections build naturally.
• Cover-ups are normal. Even one of the most famous athletes in the world reworked tattoos he no longer wanted.
• Placement tells a story. Legs, calves and ankles are practical for footballers, largely hidden by socks and shin pads during matches.
• Healing matters for athletes. Sweat, friction and training all affect a fresh tattoo, which is why timing around the season matters. Our tattoo healing timeline explains why.

Want a family tribute tattoo like Messi's?

• Portraits need a specialist. Choose an artist with healed portrait work in their portfolio, and bring a sharp, well-lit photo.
• Handprints and names work best at a size where the lines will stay clear. See our guide to lettering that lasts.
• Plan for additions. If your family may grow, leave space nearby.

For more stories behind famous ink, read our guides to Virat Kohli's tattoos and celebrity tattoos with real meaning.

Details of Messi's tattoos as reported by Sports Illustrated and Athlon Sports.