David Beckham, the former football star known for his extensive body art, has added a new tattoo to his impressive collection, which now includes over seventy designs. Beckham, 49, revealed the latest addition, a pair of praying hands, on his Instagram account yesterday.
Beckham’s journey into the world of tattoos began back in 1999, the year he became a father. To commemorate the birth of his eldest son, Brooklyn, he had the boy’s name inked in gothic script across his lower back. Shortly after, he added a guardian angel further up his back, a symbol of protection for his growing family.
Over the years, Beckham has continued to expand his collection. He now has so many tattoos that even he might struggle to keep track of them all. In a 2016 Biotherm Homme advert, he explained, “The story of my life is written on my skin. Don’t expect to read it on my face.”
When asked how he feels about his tattoos as he ages, Beckham remains unfazed. In an interview with People, he addressed the question of how his tattoos might look when he’s 60, responding, “I’m not even worried about it.”
David’s passion for ink has clearly influenced his sons, especially Brooklyn, who has also embraced body art. Brooklyn began getting tattoos as soon as he turned 18, and like his father, he is now heavily inked.
One of David’s notable tattoos is the word “Love,” inked across the top of his left hand, accompanied by swallows on either side. This is just one of many meaningful designs. On his little finger, he carries the year he married his wife, Victoria Beckham, while his daughter, Harper, designed a small female stick figure tattoo that adorns his hand.
Ever the devoted husband, Beckham also has “Posh” tattooed on one of his fingers, a reference to Victoria’s nickname from her time with the Spice Girls. His devotion to his family is a recurring theme in his tattoos.
David’s arms are adorned with two full sleeve tattoos, both of which feature centerpieces that honor his relationship with Victoria. One of his most famous tattoos is her name inked in Sanskrit along the inside of his forearm. Both David and Victoria also have matching Hebrew tattoos, which they got to commemorate their sixth wedding anniversary. The tattoos translate to, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
To mark their tenth anniversary, Beckham added a separate rose tattoo on his left arm.
Beckham’s neck features one of his most recognizable tattoos, a gothic-style cross with wings. This design symbolizes his faith and serves as a protective guardian for his son, Romeo, whose name is inked below the wings. Beckham later added his daughter Harper’s name to the side of his neck, and on her fourth birthday, he updated the tattoo to include the words “Pretty Lady.”
His back is another canvas dedicated to his sons, with angel wings as a sign of protection. He has Brooklyn and Cruz’s names inked across his back, further symbolizing his love and devotion to his family.
On Beckham’s chest, there’s an image of himself depicted as Jesus, with three cherubs representing his sons, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz. Another striking design runs down his left side in Chinese characters, translating to “Death and life have determined appointments,” showing his connection to deeper meanings and philosophies.
Finally, as a tribute to his father, Beckham has a tattoo of a ship at full mast, identical to one his father has, further demonstrating the family bond that runs through his tattoos.
David Beckham’s body art is a personal chronicle of his life, family, and beliefs, and with his latest addition, the journey continues.