World Cup footballers love their tattoos (Feature)

By Ulrike John Jun 25, 2010, 12:51 GMT

Johannesburg - Vincenzo Iaquinta saved his skin - at least for the time being. The Italian striker had already made plans for a new piece of art on his body. 'I will get a tattoo if we win the World Cup. I'm still thinking about the words,' said Iaquinta.

But the reigning champions' loss against Slovakia and resulting elimination in the first round at South Africa 2010 mean other players such as Wayne Rooney can still think about such a new tattoo.

Actually there are plenty of players who would fall into that category as hardly a footballer doesn't have a tattoo somewhere on his body.

'Alena and I are probably the only pair in European football that doesn't have a tattoo,' said Italy's star keeper Gianluigi Buffon of the clear bodies of his and his partner's.

Buffon's compatriot Marco Materazzi gained worldwide fame for receiving the head butt from Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 final but remained at home this time around with his colourful body art - which goes over his entire body, including the World Cup trophy and date 9 July 2006 on his thigh.

Four years ago, Gennaro Gattuso got a tattoo with the word 'champion'. But the Italian can forget about another reason for the tattoo this time.

His team-mate Federico Marchetti was thinking about getting his fourth tattoo if Italy won the title. 'After surviving a major car accident five years ago, I got a tattoo of Ave Maria,' said the keeper.

England striker Wayne Rooney has not yet lived up to his superstar status, but he does have tattoos. Among them are the words 'Just Enough Education to Perform' - an album title of one of his favourite bands Stereophonics - as well as a cross on his right arm, the name of his wife Coleen on his left arm and his son Kai's name on his back.

Argentina's eccentric coach Diego Maradona has a tattoo with the name of the revolutionary leader Che Guevara as well those of his two daughters. Spanish striker Fernando Torres meanwhile has the number 9 - his jersey number - on his forearm.

Portugal's Raul Meireles is another big fan of the body art.

'I have been getting tattoos since I was 18 years old,' said the midfielder. 'The tattoos bring me luck.'

There is hardly a square centimetre of free space on the upper body of France's Djibril Cisse. Meanwhile Chile striker Humberto Suazo has a panther on his chest and Portugal midfield star Deco has a Japanese geisha on his back.

The master of the tattoo however remains England's style icon David Beckham. The injured star is in South Africa in a suit on the bench, unable to show off his body art during the jersey swap. Becks have more than 20 tattoo motifs, including 10 roses in a ring form (for his 10th wedding anniversary), a Jesus scene copied from the Man of Sorrows and his favourite number VII. Beckham has tattoos up to his ruff with a guardian angel on his neck.

The Boateng half-brothers also enjoy displaying their ability to withstand pain.

Ghana's Kevin Prince Boateng's most important tattoo is the birthday of his son Jermaine (23 April 2008).

'He knew I would be against it. He hid from me his first tattoos. I don't understand how you can voluntarily hurt yourself,' said Nina Boateng about her son, Germany's Jerome Boateng, in the magazine 11 Freunde.

Footballers are currently showing off their tattoos. But they may be hiding them soon.

'Cristiano Ronaldo is setting new fashion trends,' said a Real Madrid board of directors member recently.

'He is in 2010 what David Beckham was 10 years ago. Young people want to be like Cristiano today. They aren't getting as many tattoos. Tattoos are out of fashion because Cristiano doesn't have any.'

Club officials are less excited about the wild body art. Eintracht Frankfurt's chief executive Heribert Bruchhagen once told his striker Ionannis Amanatidis: 'If you want to become a manager, don't get a tattoo.'