The most iconic tattoos in sports history

The Brazilian soccer star has a few tats, including this one on his neck, which says "Tudo Passa," (Portuguese for "everything passes"), which according to the player means that, “Good moments pass, bad moments pass. I have to enjoy these moments as much as I can. When you need to be happy, do things well and give your all. This phrase says a lot about me.”

10 / 29 Fotos

Serena Williams -

The tennis player is not covered in ink, but she does have a small heart on her neck and a little rose on her shoulder blade.

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Zlatan Ibrahimović -

The Swedish soccer player has one of the most impressive collections of tattoos in the sports world.

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Zlatan Ibrahimović -

He famously had 15 "names of real people who are suffering from hunger" tattooed on his body. The tats were, however, removable.

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Colin Kaepernick -

The quarterback has both his arms inked. On his left, he has a quote from the Bible, and on the right, the word "respect."

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Chris “Birdman” Andersen -

Who can forget the basketball player's iconic wings tattooed on his arms?

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Dani Alves -

The Brazilian soccer player has many religious tattoos, but also family members' names, including those of his kids: Daniel Jr. and Victoria.

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Carmelo Anthony -

The basketball star is covered in tats, including one of a flaming basketball with his initials on his right arm.

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Arturo Vidal -

The Chilean midfielder is covered in ink, including various crosses and an insulin pump on his abdomen, in tribute to his son who has Type 1 diabetes.

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Natasha Kai -

The American soccer player and Olympic gold medalist is covered in ink. She even appeared on the TV show 'LA Ink.'

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Adam Peaty -

The British swimmer got this lion tattooed after winning two gold medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

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Daniel Agger -

There are many iconic tattoos in soccer, but this chest piece from the former player is extraordinary.

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Stan Wawrinka -

The tennis player has a Samuel Beckett quote on his arm: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter, Try Again. Fail again. Fail better."

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Brandon Carlo -

The American ice hockey defenceman has "Live by faith not by sight" written on his forearm.

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Svetlana Kuznetsova -

The Russian tennis player has this bada** tattoo on he arm saying "Pain doesn't kill me, I kill the pain."

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Derek Wolfe -

The American football player has a really cool wolf tattooed on his arm. Did he get inspiration from his name?

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Bethanie Mattek-Sands -

The American tennis player has these colorful flowers tattooed on her arm.

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Inika McPherson -

The American high jumper reportedly has over 30 tattoos.

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Karolina Pliskova -

The Czech tennis player has two Polynesian-style tats: one on her arm, and another one on her thigh.

Sources: (CNN) (Body Art Guru)

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Conor McGregor -

The Irish MMA superstar is known for his tattoos, the gorilla on his chest being the most eye-catching one.

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Mike Tyson -

The tribal tattoo on the boxing champion's face apparently represents "warrior status."

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David Beckham -

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David Beckham -

David Beckham also has a Chinese proverb on his torso, which roughly translates to "Death and life have determined appointments; riches and honor depend upon heaven."

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Lewis Hamilton -

The "God is love" is probably the F1 champ's most well-known tattoo, given the location. But he has a lot more tattoos, including numerous other religious ones.

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LeBron James -

The NBA star is famously covered in ink. He has "Chosen 1" tattooed on his back, among many others.

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Lionel Messi -

The Barcelona star has a number of tattoos, but the one on his left leg is probably the most famous.

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Lionel Messi -

The tattoo features "No. 10," and two hands and a heart with the name of his son, Thiago.

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Dennis Rodman -

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Neymar Jr. -

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Serena Williams -

The tennis player is not covered in ink, but she does have a small heart on her neck and a little rose on her shoulder blade.

Getty Images

11 / 29 Fotos

Zlatan Ibrahimović -

The Swedish soccer player has one of the most impressive collections of tattoos in the sports world.

Getty Images

12 / 29 Fotos

Zlatan Ibrahimović -

He famously had 15 "names of real people who are suffering from hunger" tattooed on his body. The tats were, however, removable.

Getty Images

13 / 29 Fotos

Colin Kaepernick -

The quarterback has both his arms inked. On his left, he has a quote from the Bible, and on the right, the word "respect."

Getty Images

14 / 29 Fotos

Chris “Birdman” Andersen -

Who can forget the basketball player's iconic wings tattooed on his arms?

Getty Images

15 / 29 Fotos

Dani Alves -

The Brazilian soccer player has many religious tattoos, but also family members' names, including those of his kids: Daniel Jr. and Victoria.

Getty Images

16 / 29 Fotos

Carmelo Anthony -

The basketball star is covered in tats, including one of a flaming basketball with his initials on his right arm.

Getty Images

17 / 29 Fotos

Arturo Vidal -

The Chilean midfielder is covered in ink, including various crosses and an insulin pump on his abdomen, in tribute to his son who has Type 1 diabetes.

Getty Images

18 / 29 Fotos

Natasha Kai -

The American soccer player and Olympic gold medalist is covered in ink. She even appeared on the TV show 'LA Ink.'

Getty Images

19 / 29 Fotos

Adam Peaty -

The British swimmer got this lion tattooed after winning two gold medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Getty Images

20 / 29 Fotos

Daniel Agger -

There are many iconic tattoos in soccer, but this chest piece from the former player is extraordinary.

Getty Images

21 / 29 Fotos

Stan Wawrinka -

The tennis player has a Samuel Beckett quote on his arm: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter, Try Again. Fail again. Fail better."

Getty Images

22 / 29 Fotos

Brandon Carlo -

The American ice hockey defenceman has "Live by faith not by sight" written on his forearm.

Getty Images

23 / 29 Fotos

Svetlana Kuznetsova -

The Russian tennis player has this bada** tattoo on he arm saying "Pain doesn't kill me, I kill the pain."

Getty Images

24 / 29 Fotos

Derek Wolfe -

The American football player has a really cool wolf tattooed on his arm. Did he get inspiration from his name?

Getty Images

25 / 29 Fotos

Bethanie Mattek-Sands -

The American tennis player has these colorful flowers tattooed on her arm.

Getty Images

26 / 29 Fotos

Inika McPherson -

The American high jumper reportedly has over 30 tattoos.

Getty Images

27 / 29 Fotos

Karolina Pliskova -

The Czech tennis player has two Polynesian-style tats: one on her arm, and another one on her thigh.

Sources: (CNN) (Body Art Guru)

Getty Images

28 / 29 Fotos

The most iconic tattoos in sports history

You'll be surprised by the meaning of some of these tattoos

19/08/22 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Sports stars

Tattoos are increasingly popular among celebrities, and sports stars are no exception. From the soccer pitches of Europe to the basketball courts of the US, and many other places in between, we find sports personalities covered in ink. In this gallery, we look at some of the most famous sports stars and their tattoos. Some have really cool tats, and you'll surely be surprised by the meaning of some of them.

Browse through and check them out!