#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 state are inundated with queries and bookings. Popular choices include jerseys and portraits of footballers such as Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as inks and portraits 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!”
Argetine footballer Lionel Messi, tattoo artists say, is a hot favourite among football enthusiasts looking to ink their love for the sport. Harshad Gohil, manager and designer at Radiant Tattoos Studio, says, “Messi ke tattoos kaafi log prefer kar rahe hain, at our studio. Abhi mera ek client hai jo Messi ka portrait banwana chahta hai. I have already designed it, he will get it inked in the next twothree days.”
What’s also quite popular, this time around, is the idea of inking family members’ names, birthdays, etc., just like footballers Neymar and Messi have. Hitesh Lalwani from GunsArtwork Tattoo, Pune, says: “Messi’s jersey number 10 tattoo is quite a popular one in our studio, as we’ve done quite a few similar tattoos. We have also got queries for inks similar to Messi’s tattoo of his son’s footprints. Similarly, Neymar has portraits of his mum and sister on him, and clients are asking for similar ones.”
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!”
Tattoo artist