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David Beckham’s Tattoo Collection Is a Love Letter to His Family
by
ina bansal
Placeholder / Karwai Tang
David Beckham may have had one of the most storied careers as a professional soccer star, but if you were to ask him, being a husband to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and a father to their four children remain his most remarkable life achievements. The athlete lets no opportunity pass by to show his love and support for his sweet family, and his tattoo collection is merely an extension of his innate affection toward them.
Over the years, Beckham has accumulated over 70 tattoos, both big and small. And even though he has a ton of pieces inked on his body, he’s always made sure that each design holds significant sentimental value to him, whether that’s celebrating career milestones or marking special occasions in his personal life. He has countless designs for his children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper, and matching designs with Victoria. And he’s even gone on to inspire his oldest children to follow in his footsteps, with Brooklyn’s tattoo collection rapidly growing.
“Mine are all about the people in my life, my wife and sons, who I want with me always,” he said in his autobiography about his ink collection. “When you see me, you see the tattoos. You see an expression of how I feel about Victoria and the boys. They’re a part of me.” Sticking with this principle is likely why Beckham has never had a second thought about any of his inking decisions. “I don’t regret any of them. They all have a meaning. I think that’s what’s important about tattoos; if they have a meaning, you’ll never regret them.” In another 2016 interview with GQ, he shared that his “tattoos are a way of me expressing deeper feelings about the things I care about and love.”
Despite owning a wide array of tattoos, all of Beckham’s ink somehow appears homogeneous. That might be due partly to the fact that a majority of his designs are done by the same artist, the talented celebrity tattooist Mark Mahoney. From his many religious and renaissance-inspired body artwork to the ones dedicated to his family – we’ve rounded up nearly every tattoo in Beckham’s expansive ink collection. Read on to learn all about his tattoos as well as their sentimental relevance to the soccer star.
Getty / Quinn Rooney
David Beckham's Left Arm Tattoos
David Beckham‘s “व्हिक्टोरिया” Forearm Tattoo
Beckham has his wife Victoria’s name inked in Hindi script on the inside of his left forearm. The piece runs horizontally along the arm length and spells “व्हिक्टोरिया,” which many have noted is slightly misspelled, as it reads “Vhictoria” instead of Victoria. The latter should’ve been written as “विक्टोरिया.”
David Beckham’s “Ut Amem Et Foveam” Forearm Tattoo
Beckham got a Latin script “Ut Amem Et Foveam” inked on his left forearm in old English font, which means “To love and to cherish.” It’s likely another tribute to Victoria, given its placement is directly below his “व्हिक्टोरिया” tattoo.
David Beckham’s Hebrew Forearm Tattoo
To commemorate their sixth wedding anniversary, Beckham and Victoria got matching Hebrew script tattoos that translate to “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” While the soccer player got his ink on his left forearm, the former Spice Girls singer opted for hers to go vertically along the nape of her neck.
David Beckham’s Cupid and Psyche Arm Tattoo
Inspired by the Renaissance artwork of Cupid and Psyche by the 15th-century artist Francesco Francia, Beckham got a replica of the famous painting inked on the top of his left shoulder. The piece of ink shows Cupid, the god of love, carrying his wife Psyche up to Heaven while surrounded by smoky clouds.
David Beckham’s Ten Roses Tattoo
The soccer star marked 10 years of marriage to Victoria by adding a beautiful tribute to his sprawling ink collection. He got a tattoo consisting of a ring of ten roses inked on his left arm, near his elbow. While appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2009, he opened up about the sweet gesture, saying, “We always try to do special things. It’s not always about buying gifts for each other. We just make sure that we spend time together or go for dinner together and do special things. That is important to us.”
David Beckham’s Victoria Portrait Tattoo
In 2007, Beckham added a portrait of his wife, Victoria, on his left forearm. The design sees the fashion mogul dressed in a vintage lingerie set, which she shot for Pop magazine. A couple of star-shaped marks surround the portrait. At the bottom of the etching, the phrase “Till Death Us Do Part” is inked in cursive font.
David Beckham’s “Forever By Your Side” Forearm Tattoo
The soccer star added the phrase “Forever by your side” next to the Victoria portrait, another tribute dedicated to their love.
David Beckham’s Biblical Proverb Tattoo
Located on the inside of his left elbow is the biblical proverb 3:1 in Hebrew, which translates to: “My son, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart.” He has dedicated this beautiful piece to his third son, Cruz.
Getty / Samir Hussein
David Beckham's Left Hand Tattoos
David Beckham‘s “723” Hand Tattoo
Beckham has the number “723” tattooed on the back of his left hand between his thumb and index finger. It’s a sentimental nod to Beckham’s monumental jersey numbers. The soccer star wore the No. 7 jersey at both Manchester United and England, and No. 23 when playing for Real Madrid and LA Galaxy.
David Beckham’s “Love” Hand Tattoo
The word “Love” is etched in cursive handwriting across the back of his left hand, with two swallow birds in flight on either side.
David Beckham’s “Lead With Love” Hand Tattoo
The phrase “Lead with Love,” seemingly a positive affirmation of kindness, can be seen on the back of his left hand.
David Beckham’s “Seven” Finger Tattoo
On the index finger of his left hand, Beckham has the word “Seven” inked horizontally along the length of his finger, a sweet tribute to his youngest daughter with wife Victoria, Harper, whose middle name is Seven.
David Beckham’s Rose and “V” Finger Tattoos
Beckham has a tiny rose illustration in black ink tattooed on the back of his left ring finger. He later added a cursive letter “V” beneath the rose design, a likely nod to his wife.
David Beckham’s “7” Finger Tattoo
The number “7” is inked on the back of his left pinky finger. The piece is dedicated to his youngest daughter, Harper Seven Beckham.
David Beckham’s Spider Hand Tattoo
In November 2021, Beckham paid LA-based tattooist Dr. Woo a visit to get a single-needle spider inked on his middle finger, close to the knuckle.
Getty / Stephen Dunn
David Beckham's Right Arm Tattoos
David Beckham‘s “In the Face of Adversity” Shoulder Tattoo
Beckham has an angel tattooed across his top right shoulder. The text “In the Face of Adversity” is inked in cursive script in an arch above an angel that appears to be wearing a gloomy expression with a single tear. The soccer player got this ink in 2004 amidst the marital affair accusation that emerged at the time.
David Beckham’s Cherub Arm Tattoos
On his right bicep, Beckham has two cherubs that reportedly represent his elder sons, Brooklyn and Romeo. The text “Is for you I would die to defend” appears beneath the piece.
David Beckham’s “Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear” Forearm Tattoo
On his left forearm, near his elbow, Beckham has another guardian angel artwork with the Roman quote “Let them Hate As Long As They Fear” etched beneath it.
David Beckham’s “23” Forearm Tattoo
Beckham’s forearm also bears the number “23” below the guardian angel design, which seems to be a nod to the jersey number he wore at LA Galaxy and Real Madrid.
David Beckham’s “Perfectio in Spiritu” Tattoo
On the inside of Beckham’s right forearm, the Latin phrase “Perfectio in Spiritu” is written in old English font. The script translates to “Spirit Perfection.”
David Beckham’s “VII” Tattoo
Next to the “Perfectio in Spiritu” text, Beckham has his lucky number seven inked in 3D Roman numerals “VII.
Getty / Karwai Tang
David Beckham's Right Hand Tattoos
David Beckham‘s “Pray For Me” Wrist Tattoo
The phrase “Pray For Me” is inked horizontally across the outside of his right wrist as an intricate cloud-like shading surrounds the words. The soccer player got the script tattoo in 2007, close to his career-defining move from Manchester United to the LA Galaxy.
David Beckham’s “Victoria” Tattoo
Beckham got his wife’s name “Victoria” inked on the back of his right hand. Two hummingbirds are also tattooed on each side around the text, likely symbolizing the peace and harmony in their familial lives.
David Beckham’s “99” Tattoo
The year 1999 marks an especially memorable period of Beckham’s life. He and Victoria got married and welcomed their first-born Brooklyn, while the soccer player achieved many career milestones, including Manchester United winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League. So, it’s no wonder that he has the number “99” inked on the back of his right pinky. “99 was a good year for me…,” he captioned a 2015 Instagram post sharing a close-up of the piece.
David Beckham’s “Dream Big, Be Unrealistic” Tattoo
Inspired by Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Rose Bowl performance during the “On the Run” tour in 2014, Beckham put the powerful quote “Dream Big / Be Unrealistic” on the back of his right hand in beautiful cursive handwriting.
David Beckham’s “VIII.V.MMVI” and “De Integro” Wrist Tattoos
Beckham and Victoria honored their love for one another by renewing their vows in a private ceremony on May 8, 2006. To mark the special occasion, the married couple got the date inscribed on their right wrists in Roman numerals “VII.V.MMVI.” To complete the matching designs, they also got the Latin phrase “De Integro” tattooed below the date, which, in English, means “Again from the start.”
David Beckham’s Harper’s Drawing Tattoo
In 2015, Beckham debuted his newly minted hand tattoo featuring an adorable stick-figure drawing from his youngest daughter, Harper. There’s also a heart outline next to the scribbling. “Apparently Harper is allowed to scribble on daddy ❤,” read the caption.
David Beckham’s “32” Hand Tattoo
The number “32” – Beckham’s jersey number when he joined the AC Milan Club in 2009 – is inked on the back of his right hand, on the space between his thumb and the index finger.
David Beckham’s “My Love” Tattoo
On his right knuckles, Beckham has the text “My Love” tattooed in cursive handwriting.
David Beckham’s Knights Templar Cross Tattoo
Beckham got the symbolic cross of the Knights Templar tattooed on the inside of his right wrist, representing his team spirit as a professional soccer player.
David Beckham’s “Siete” Finger Tattoo
The Latin word “Siete” is inscribed on the top of Beckham’s right index finger, which means “nap” in English.
Getty / Stephen Dunn
David Beckham's Back Tattoos
David Beckham‘s “Brooklyn” Back Tattoo
Beckham’s lower back has a tattoo that spells his eldest son’s name, Brooklyn.
David Beckham’s “Romeo” Back Tattoo
The name of his second-born son, “Romeo,” is tattooed in the top center of his back.
David Beckham’s Guardian Angel Back Tattoo
A crucified guardian angel is inked below the “Romeo” piece on Beckham’s back.
David Beckham’s “Cruz” Back Tattoo
“Cruz,” the name of Beckham’s third son, born in 2005, is inked in the center of his back below the angel.
Getty / Edward Berthelot
David Beckham's Face and Head Tattoos
David Beckham‘s Solar System Head Tattoo
In 2018, Beckham added his first-ever head tattoo to his ever-growing body art collection. The piece features a solar system sketch that is located on the left side of his head, just above his ear. However, the design is rarely visible with a full head of hair.
David Beckham’s Rose Face Tattoo
A tiny rose is tattooed on Beckham’s face, right next to his left ear.
David Beckham’s Tiny Heart Tattoo
On his left earlobe, Beckham has a small heart tattoo in solid black ink.
Getty / Pierre Suu
David Beckham's Neck Tattoos
David Beckham‘s “Harper” Neck Tattoo
Located on the left side of Beckham’s neck is the name of his daughter, “Harper,” in cursive handwriting.
David Beckham’s “Pretty Lady” Neck Tattoo
To mark his daughter’s fourth birthday in 2015, Beckham added another script tattoo reading “Pretty Lady” with a tiny heart on the side of his neck, directly above the “Harper” piece.
David Beckham’s Rose Tattoo
He later added a beautiful rose illustration on his neck above the “Pretty Lady” ink.
David Beckham’s “Buster” Neck Tattoo
The word “Buster” with a tiny heart is tattooed on the right side of Beckham’s neck, which is a sweet nickname he has for his eldest son, Brooklyn. “I’ve always called Brooklyn (Buster) since the day he was born… Love you Bust,” read the caption of his 2015 Instagram post, where he showed off his latest tribute.
David Beckham’s Cross and Wings Nape Tattoo
On the nape of his neck, Beckham has a Gothic-style cross tattoo with two angel wings on either side of it.
David Beckham’s Behind-the-Ear Birds Tattoo
A flock of birds in flight is situated on the left side of Beckham’s neck, extending up behind his ear. Though the exact significance of the design is unknown, a flying bird represents freedom and peace.
David Beckham’s “I Love You” Neck Tattoo
The phrase “I Love You” is inked on the left neck that continues up to his nape. It’s possibly another sentimental piece of ink dedicated to his family.
David Beckham’s “Dadda” Neck Tattoo
The word “Dadda” is tattooed in cursive handwriting on the right side of his neck. It’s likely a nod to his kids.
David Beckham’s “Do It Afraid” Neck Tattoo
“Do It Afraid” is another motivational phrase that can be seen on the right side of Beckham’s neck.
David Beckham’s Black Horse Tattoo
In 2016, the tattoo artist Mahoney helped create the dark horse ink on Beckham’s neck, though its significance to the soccer star is unknown.
Getty / Gilles Mingasson
David Beckham's Chest Tattoos
David Beckham‘s Jesus and Cherubs Chest Tattoo
On his left pec, Beckham has intricate artwork of Jesus being carried up from his tomb by three cherubs. Mark Mahoney created this piece in 2011, and the soccer star revealed its emotional relevance to him in a now-deleted Facebook video, saying that the cherubs are supposed to represent his three sons. “It’s Jesus being carried by three cherubs, and obviously the cherubs are my boys, and so my thought of it is that at some point my boys are going to need to look after me, and that’s what they’re doing in the picture. It means a lot,” he stated.
David Beckham’s The Agony in the Garden Painting Tattoo
A detailed replica of Gustave Doré’s popular painting “The Agony in the Garden” sits on Beckham’s right pec.
David Beckham’s Cross Chest Tattoo
A small cross representing his religious faith is inked at the center of his sternum.
David Beckham’s Biblical Ribcage Tattoo
Located on his right ribcage is a script tattoo of what appears to be a long Biblical passage. Though, given its small text font size, it’s hard to make out exactly what it reads.
David Beckham’s Eagle Tattoo
In 2015, Beckham visited tattooist Mark Mahoney at Shamrock Social Club to get a hyper-realistic eagle tattoo that starts below his left armpit and stretches up to his back. “RISE ABOVE,” he simply captioned his Instagram showcasing the piece.
David Beckham’s “1975” Tattoo
“1975” is tattooed in a small font on his left ribcage, which is the year the soccer star was born.
David Beckham’s “We Love You Daddy” Tattoo
In 2015, Beckham shared a first look at the “We Love You Daddy” script on his left ribcage, scribbled in the handwriting of his children. “The boys expressing how they feel about daddy ❤❤❤,” he wrote in the caption of the image.
David Beckham’s “Mum & Dad” Tattoo
Placed directly below the “1975” piece is the text “Mum & Dad” in beautiful cursive script.
David Beckham’s Native American Chief Tattoo
Beckham got a Native American Chief tattooed wearing a traditional headdress. The piece is inked on his left ribcage, below his armpit. In 2021, his eldest son, Brooklyn, also got a matching design inked on the inside of his right forearm.
David Beckham’s Ship Tattoo
An elaborate ship design is tattooed on Beckham’s right ribcage. It’s a matching ink he shares with his father, who has it placed on his arm.
Getty / Quinn Rooney
David Beckham's Torso Tattoos
David Beckham‘s “The Man of Sorrows” Tattoo
To honor his late grandfather, who passed away in 2009, Beckham got a portrait of Jesus, inspired by the Catholic artist Matthew R. Brooks’ artwork called “The Man of Sorrows.”
David Beckham’s Chinese Proverb Tattoo
Beckham has a Chinese proverb inked vertically along his left ribcage, which starts just below his armpit and stretches downward, stopping above his left hip. When translated into English, the Chinese characters roughly mean “Death and life have determined appointments. Riches and honor depend upon heaven.”