LIONEL Messi is widely considered to be the greatest footballer of all time.
But how many tattoos does the player from Argentina have and what do they mean?
What do Lionel Messi’s tattoos mean?
Lionel Messi has a lot of body art — but what are the meanings behind the portraits, symbols and emblems that decorate his skin?
The first inking the Inter Miami captain ever got was a portrait of his mother, Celia Cuccittini, on the back of his left shoulder to show his love and respect for her.
She runs the Leo Messi Foundation, the charity the footballer set up to aid youngsters in need.
After seeing the image of Celia, comedian Noel Fielding joked that the soccer ace had a tattoo of his face on his back.
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On November 2, 2012 — the date he became a father for the first time — Messi had his newborn son Thiago's hands inked onto the back of his leg.
Leo added Thiago's name in a heart in between Thiago's thumbs because a lot of people thought the tat signified Diego Maradona's hand of god goal.
He also got the name of his second son, Mateo, put onto his left arm on September 11, 2015.
Messi got a picture of a football etched onto just below the knee of his left leg, which signifies his passion for the sport.
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To honour his religious convictions, the World Cup winner got branded with an image of Jesus Christ with a crown of thorns on his right arm.
Lionel got a tattoo of a lotus on his his bicep to symbolise his rags-to-riches story, from a humble boy born in the Argentinian City of Rosario to becoming a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
According to his tattooist Roberto Lopez: "The lotus symbolises that talent can grow anywhere even with forces stopping it."
The artwork on the striker's right elbow of a rose window is inspired by the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
"The rose window of the famous Barcelona church Sagrada Familia shows the love he has for the city," said Lopez.
Along with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo, the GOAT has a picture of a crown on his right arm, with the his-and-hers royal headwear representing the couple's love for one another.
Messi also has a tattoo of his wife's eye on his right bicep.
To signify the importance of time, he has a tat of a giant clock covering his right forearm — the illustration includes a number of timepiece cogs.
On the sleeve of his right arm Lionel has a rosary — a string of beads — which, according to his tattoo artist Roberto Lopez, is supposed to convey the journey of his life.
While playing for both Argentina and Barcelona, Messi's shirt number was 10, which he has tattooed on his left shin.
La Plulga — Spanish for little flea, one of his many nicknames — has the birthdates of his three sons and his wife inked onto his left leg.
Messi has his wife's lips applied to his left hip, just above his groin.
He also reportedly has tattoos of South America and Europe somewhere on his right arm, although it is not easy to spot them from photos.
How many tattoos does Lionel Messi have?
According to most reports, Messi has 18 tattoos.
His leg was previously decorated with a sword with wings and flower patterns, but in a strange twist they are now covered up, so it is impossible to know how many he's had in total.
Also, there may be some tats in areas where cameras are not welcome.
When did Lionel Messi get his first tattoo?
Leo got his first tattoo back in 2011.
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It is on his the back of his left shoulder.
The artwork is a portrait of his mother, Celia María Cuccittini.
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