Lionel Messi covered most of his leg tattoo in solid black ink

Lionel Messi’s new tattoo is quite something.

Dan Gartland | Nov 9, 2016

Lionel Messi covered most of his leg tattoo in solid black ink /

You don’t usually get to see the lower half of Lionel Messi’s left leg, but it’s fascinating to look at its evolution.

Messi’s first ink on his dominant leg came after his son Thiago was born in 2012, when the Barcelona star got his child’s name and hand prints tattooed on his calf.

In the summer of 2015, Messi added a few more elements and the tattoo began to cover most of his lower leg.

Follow Extra Mustard on Facebook

Then, on Tuesday, Messi revealed a massive overhaul of the whole piece. Thiago’s hands and Messi’s number are still there, but the rest of it is completely covered in black ink.

If you’re interested in the backstory behind Messi’s numerous tattoos, British tabloid The Sunhas a pretty thorough breakdown.

Published Nov 9, 2016

DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).