The report says researchers examined around 200 images of the squad. They found tattoos on 20 of 26 players, with a combined total of 226 designs. That scale gives the subject more weight than a collection of isolated fashion choices.
Tattoos can mark identity in a profession where even social-media activity may be shaped by sponsors and employers. Their visibility also matters: the report says roughly 60% of the designs were placed on the arms or head, meaning they could be seen during matches.
The strongest themes were not purely decorative. The report says 15 of the 20 tattooed players had Catholic imagery, including references to the Virgin Mary, Jesus, saints and churches. Other designs reportedly carried broader spiritual meanings.
Family and career were equally prominent. The report says 16 players had tattoos connected to people or relationships they valued, including children, relatives, partners and pets. It also links tattoos to trophies, shirt numbers and jerseys, turning professional milestones into permanent reminders.
That freedom is not distributed evenly. The report points to criticism directed at Yamila Rodriguez after she revealed tattoos of Cristiano Ronaldo rather than Lionel Messi. The reaction underlines a gendered expectation that players should display the “right” football loyalties, even through something as personal as body art.
The next storyline is whether football can treat tattoos as genuine self-expression rather than another test of allegiance. As players continue to build public identities beyond the pitch, the designs they choose - and the reactions they provoke - will remain part of the game’s wider culture.