World Cup athletes use tattoos to convey aspects of their identity—including details of their faith, family, and accomplishments—in the otherwise tightly regulated arena of professional sports.

Findings

Additional insights we found via The Conversation

Sociologists Sam Belkin and Dale Sheptak argue that professional soccer, especially the World Cup, has strict regulations about what players can wear or say, so tattoos can serve as an important form of "nonverbal communication."
Researchers from Boston College studied the tattoos of the 2022 Argentine men's national team, the winners of that year's World Cup, and found that 20 of the 26 players had tattoos, totaling 226.
75% of the players had tattoos depicting Catholic iconography, though others had objects and images from other religions and faith traditions.
75% of the players also had depictions of their career accomplishments, while 80% referenced things or people they loved.
60% of the tattoos were on the arms or head, making them highly visible for spectators, either in the stands or at home watching the game on TV.