It all began with lettering and two small hands. After heart and wing came a soccer ball and number 10 followed by bright colors. In 2012, Lionel Messi's body was completely free of tattoos. With the birth of his son, the Argentinian decided to get his first tattoo — the name of his firstborn on the calf. In the meantime, not only is the left leg of the six-time world soccer player decorated with a colorful work of art, Messi's right arm is also tattooed over a large area. The development of the soccer star reflects that of the entire industry. While almost no female soccer player wore tattoos on their skin 15 to 20 years ago, nowadays it is rather the exception when a professional soccer player does not wear a picture on her body. Messi's great rival Cristiano Ronaldo is an alternative. The Portuguese is known for showing off his upper body. But you search in vain for a tattoo on “CR7”. It is repeatedly claimed that the European champion of 2016 would not allow himself to be stabbed in order to get the last percent out of himself. But what is it about? Can tattoos really alleviate performance during sports?
One approach that supports this claim lies in traditional Chinese medicine. This ancient science is based, among other things, on the flow of energy in the body. It looks at people as a whole and is based on the fact that the basic forces of life are in balance in healthy people. According to one theory, tattoos influence the energy channels in the body. These so-called meridians run under the skin, which is why an intervention in these pathways disrupts circulation and could therefore make flow more difficult.
Professor Ingo Froböse from the German Sport University in Cologne argues in the same direction, but with a different reason. In his opinion, clubs should even ban tattoos for their players. The scientist refers to various studies according to which female soccer players suffer performance losses of 3 to 5 percent, as the skin — the largest organ in humans — would be poisoned by the use of color pigments. The ink would not remain in the skin, but would also get into the bloodstream. The fact that professional tattoo artists only pierce the color pigment into the second layer of skin to prevent this claim. It is of course up to you and every soccer player to find out about the different qualifications and qualities of tattoo artists. Another argument from tattoo opponents in soccer is based on this: Piercing tattoos would result in small scars that injure the sweat glands. In theory, this is of course possible if the artist does not understand their craft well or lacks experience.
The topic of sweating is another one that means being discussed. US studies claim that tattooed skin surfaces produce less sweat and therefore make temperature regulation in the body more difficult. Physiologist Maurice Lütkemeier from Alma College in Michigan, for example, published his study entitled “Tattoos Cause You To Sweat Less.” According to this, the test subjects sweated on tattooed areas of the body
around 50 percent less than in vacant positions. In addition, the sweat on the tattooed areas was significantly saltier. However, the test subjects were only ten men, which in turn puts the significance into perspective. The topic of sweating in connection with tattoos during sports has simply not been researched enough to be able to draw clear conclusions about performance.
Get your digital assistant trainer!
Another issue that comes up again and again when it comes to tattoos in general is that the colors used could potentially be carcinogenic. Especially with cheap paints, this cannot be ruled out. In order to counteract the use of those chemical products, the German Tattoo Products Ordinance (TäToV) was enacted, which came into force on May 1, 2009. The difference between the colors lies in the different cleaning stages, which are to be regulated here. Every professionally managed tattoo studio in Germany must comply with this regulation. Tattoo inks consist of 99 percent distilled water, the rest is made up of pigment. Many of the latest tattoo inks are vegan. Experts also regard the removal of tattoos more critically than pricking tattoos. During laser treatment, the color pigment is broken down and excreted through the lymphatic system, which poses certain risks. So maybe before getting a tattoo, you should think carefully about whether you want to wear it for the rest of your life.
It is not known whether Cristiano Ronaldo's lack of imagination regarding a motif also plays a role in his decision against a tattoo. Not even if he is concerned about health issues. Rather, the Portuguese's public motivations are different. For example, the five-time FIFA World Player of the Year explained back in 2012 that he regularly donates blood and is clinched with tattoos due to the possibility of an infection. In addition, it is not possible to donate blood for some time after the prick. Another example of a top soccer player who prefers not to wear tattoos is Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. Here, too, it is not known whether the Norwegian is interested in recalling even the last grain of his performance or whether he is simply not a fan of body art.
On the other hand, there is a wide range of professional soccer players who enjoy having their bodies decorated with pleasure. Be it mainly on the forearms, such as the German international player Toni Kroos, or on the whole body, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swedish icon in particular is likely to be an example of the thesis that large-scale tattoos have no effect on performance. Even at an advanced soccer age of 39, “Ibra” is still one of the best in its profession and a prime example of athleticism and mobility. And even a Lionel Messi suffered no discernible drop in performance associated with his love for tattoos. Although it is of course pointless to speculate what percentage more Argentines would still be able to afford, he would not have let himself be stabbed.
In conclusion, it can neither be said that tattoos and soccer sports cannot be reconciled, nor can it be ruled out that they reduce performance, even if only by a few percent. One thing is clear: If you decide to get a tattoo, you will have to step back a bit during training. Direct sunlight in particular is harmful to freshly tattooed skin. It is recommended to avoid the sun for at least six weeks. So: It's best to have your tattoo done during the summer break. And the smaller the new work of art is, the shorter the training break will usually be.
We are the game changer — B42
.jpg)
