Since the coronation of their national football team in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentines have embraced a new fashion represented by tattooing their bodies with the image of Albiceleste star, Lionel Messi, as he accepts the precious trophy in an image that has become a symbol in the country.
“For the next two weeks, I only have tattoo appointments related to the World Cup. Some had already made an appointment to get tattoos of snakes or skulls, but they changed their decision and replaced it with a picture of Messi or the trophy,” Esteban Vucinovic, a tattoo artist nicknamed “Tippy Cobra,” told AFP. “.
“on the skin forever”
Vucinovic added, “The World Cup is the most requested, followed by, of course, Messi, but also goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was decisive in the final against France (3-3 at the end of normal time and then 4-2 on penalties).”
These fans are also inspired by some of the recent world champions from Argentina, such as Ángel Di Maria, who recently got a World Cup tattoo on his right leg.
Di Maria wrote on his Instagram account, “On the skin forever. Thank you very much, my friend. You said it when we won the Copa America (in 2020). I saved the other foot for the occasion. It was written. Forward Argentina!”
“I got the Messi tattoo as a token of thanks,” Nicholas Reshanik told AFP. He added, “It (the tattoo) represents not only Messi but also the team that brought us the World Cup for the third time and all the years of effort to achieve this goal.”
Before he put a tattoo of Messi on his left leg while he was wearing a blue-striped white shirt as he accepted the Gold Cup, he previously had a tattoo of the other legend of Argentine football, Diego Maradona, who was crowned world champion in 1986 and died in 2020.
Messi raised his score to 37 titles in a triumphant march that witnessed his victory in all tournaments without exception, and he rose to the ranks of football legends alongside the Brazilian Pele and his compatriot Maradona.
In his last appearance in the World Cup finals, Messi broke many records, including his participation in his 26th match in the World Cup, while he scored two goals from his team’s hat-trick in an exciting 3-3 draw, before resorting to the penalty kicks scenario that smiled at Argentina.