#INKED: FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS FOOTBALL

Amid the FIFA World Cup, fans have turned to tattoos to exhibit their passion for the sport

Football fervour has engulfed the country, amid the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar. From quirky merchandise to jerseys aplenty, it’s a celebration like no other for football lovers. Many have even chosen to ink their love for the sport, something they can cherish for a lifetime. As a result, tattoo artists across the country are inundated with queries and bookings. Popular choices include jerseys and portraits of footballers such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as inks inspired by those sported by their favourite players.

Amar Kumar of D5 Tattoo Studio in Lucknow tells that he recently designed CR7 logo on his customer’s wrist.

“In sports we get more cricket related customers but this time we had customers walking in to get football tattoos. Earlier, it used to be club logos like Manchester United or Real Madrid but now youngsters are getting small tattoos like CR7 or jersey no 10 inked. One did enquire for tattoos that Messi sports on his arm but due to costing he is yet to come back,” says Abhinav Kumar of Black Jack Tattoo Studio.

Tattoo artists say tattoo portraits of Messi are much in demand this FIFA season. Freelance tattoo artist in the city, Dhruv Bhan Singh says that more than blindly following the trend people are thoughtful of what to get inked. “I have made a couple of a No 10 logo tattoos of Messi for young football freaks who have being playing football at school and college level. They love the game and follows it wholeheartedly,” says Dhruv.

What’s also increasingly popular this year is couple tattoos, inspired by the likes of Luis Suárez. Naveen Sharma, owner of Inkcredible Art, Gurugram.

Among football enthusiasts the excitement to dedicate something as special as a tattoo to the sport, is palpable. Sonu, a national level football player, who has inked his own jersey, says: “When I started playing football in 2005, little did I know I’d fall in love with the sport so much that I will end up getting a tattoo!” Delhiite Kartik Khanna, who has a tattoo of Wayne Rooney, among others, opines, “These tattoos attract other football lovers and help strike a conversation on the game.”

Inputs by Ashish Kumar Singh, Anupriya Mishra, Aayushi Parekh and Deep Saxena