#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.
Aditya Panchu, owner of Hart Tattoos & Art Studio, Mumbai, tells us, “We are getting a lot of requests for tattoos ever since the FIFA World Cup began. While they have got individual concepts in their mind, logos of the countries that people are supporting are a popular choice of template. And then, there are some who are looking to get a tattoo of the world cup trophy!”
Tattoo artists say tattoo portraits of Messi are much in demand this FIFA season. Nicky, manager at Tattoo Sutra, Bengaluru, says, “We have seen requests flooding in for either Messi lately or team logos of the countries that people support at the World Cup. Most of these are personalized where jersey numbers are inked with motivational quotes underneath it. The demand for these have risen this entire year, in anticipation for FIFA World Cup.”
What’s also increasingly popular this year is couple tattoos, inspired by the likes of Luis Suárez. Naveen Sharma, owner of Inkcredible Art, Gurugram, says, “The latest tattoo I made was inspired by Luis Suarez and his wife Sofia Balbi’s lion finger tattoos.”
Among football enthusiasts in the city, 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 our common love for the game.”
Fans ask for tattoos similar to what footballers have, with a twist. ROSHAN SINGH,
Tattoo artist