David and Brooklyn – a story of the Beckham’s tattoos

In recent months, the Beckhams have been blighted with reports of a family feud – with Brooklyn said to have fallen out with his parents over Nicola Peltz. 

Yet there’s one thing that will forever bond David and Brooklyn – their shared love of tattoos – with the duo having a combined 200 between them. 

Many of the inkings have been inspired by their love of family, with David sporting his children’s names on his back as well as a ’99’ on his little finger to mark the year of Brooklyn’s birth and his marriage to Victoria. 

While Brooklyn – a self proclaimed tattoo addict – unveiled the words ‘mama’s boy’ on his chest in 2019 to honour his fashion designer mother. 

However, amid the ongoing feud which has since brought the celebrity offspring and his parents apart, a recent shoot for Glamour magazine revealed that Brooklyn has savagely chosen to cover up the tattoo tribute to Victoria. 

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Brooklyn Beckham, 26, recently revealed he has savagely covered up a ‘mama’s boy’ tattoo on his chest in tribute to Victoria (left, in February 2025 and right in 2019)

In recent months, the Beckhams have been blighted with reports of a family feud – yet there’s one thing that will forever bond David and Brooklyn – their shared love of tattoos 

The small two-word inking has been layered at some point in the last year with a bunch of flowers – seemingly another tattoo tribute to his wife Nicola, of which he already has more than 70.

It feels a deliberate and symbolic update, one which has been tellingly showcased after the feud between the son and his parents boiled over with Brooklyn failing to attend any of David’s 50th birthday celebrations.

Victoria is believed to be ‘heartbroken’ over the rift, with Brooklyn now casting himself as the ‘wife guy’ who does everything for his spouse. 

But while Brooklyn’s ‘mama’s boy’ inkwork has been covered up, a heart tattoo in tribute to his Spice Girl mother persists on his left arm. 

As the bitter feud within the Beckham family draws on, it will be interesting to see how long the tattoo remains on show. 

Now, MailOnline takes a look at the meanings behind David and Brooklyn’s many tattoos. 

Cruz, Brooklyn and Romeo (L-R) have all followed in their father’s footsteps by getting a plethora of tattooos

David and Brooklyn – a story of the Beckham’s tattoos

Having sH๏τ to stardom as a footballer in the mid-1990s, David played the first few years of his career tattoo-free for Manchester United. 

However he first caught the bug late in that decade having supposedly been inspired by Spice Girl Mel B’s then husband Jimmy Gulzar. 

His first inkwork in 1999 commemorated Brooklyn’s arrival into the world, with David tattooing his son’s name to his lower back in a classic Gothic script. 

A flurry of inkwork followed, with David back at the studio a year later to have his iconic guardian angel inkwork drawn onto the back of his neck. 

The sweet idea behind the angel was that the guardian could be watching over Brooklyn’s name further down the star’s body.  

In the same year, David pledged his devotion to wife Victoria with a tattoo of her name in Hindi script. Experts later pointed out the tribute, unfortunately, actually said ‘Vihctoria’.

After the birth of their second son Romeo in 2002, David added his name above the guardian angel – which had been tweaked and given impressive wings.

David is known for his love of body art and has paid tribute to his wife Victoria and his children with many of his inkings 

David played the first few years of his career tattoo-free for Manchester United but he son got the buzz for getting inked (pictured in 2011)  

Shortly after his Romeo addition, the Inter Miami owner chose to get the number 7 – which he wore at Manchester United – tattooed on to his inner arm in Roman numerals.  

In 2003, he got a Latin inking on left inner arm reading ‘So that I love and cherish’ and ‘Spiritual perfection’ onto his right.

Later in that year, he celebrated his move to Real Madrid by flying over his tattooist Louis Malloy to create the cross design on his back.

More recently, he has moved away from his crowded arms to create works on his torso, including a religious scene depicting Jesus being carried by three cherubs, believed to represent him and his three sons.

He also has a scene of a woman in a forest over the right-hand side of his chest and in 2010, added an image of Jesus below his ribcage.

The image is based on a painting called The Man Of Sorrows by Catholic artist Matthew R. Brooks and is believed to be another tribute to his grandfather Joe, who pᴀssed away aged 83 the year before.

Speaking about how he chooses his designs, the iconic star has explained: ‘They’re about the important people in my life, who I want to have with me always.’

Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo visited a tattoo studio together in 2023 to mark their special bond. 

The trio each had the word ‘Brotherhood’ inked on different parts of their body.

Just a couple of months ago David showed off his new artwork which was a detailed pair of hands clapped together praying

Brooklyn, the eldest of the three, opted to have his new tattoo on his leg above his dancing lady body art, while Romeo also had his on his leg above his eagle inking, while Cruz chose to have his on his hand. 

Wannabe chef Brooklyn, who was no doubt inspired by his famous parent, showed off his vast collection during a sun-soaked trip in Saint Tropez with wife Nicola last summer summer.

Since going under the needle first in 2017, the self professed tattoo addict has amᴀssed over 70 tributes to his heiress wife.

Brooklyn’s tributes to Nicola are extensive, with her portrait on his upper arm and her eyes tattooed on the back of his neck as well as her name.

Far from just using her image, Brooklyn also has their wedding vows tattooed on his arm, with the romantic prose reading: ‘Nicola when you walked down the aisle you took my breath away you look so beautiful tonight and always.

‘Let me start by saying that words cannot even describe my love for you just looking at you I see my future and it feels like a dream.

‘You are my world and I continue to fall more in love with you every single day.’

Brooklyn also sports the name ‘Buster’, his father’s nickname for him, as well as an anchor to honour England legend David.

He has too found room on his physique for his mother-in-law Claudia’s rosary beads.

Brooklyn has racked up more than 100 tattoos since first visiting a studio in 2010 He has since covered up tattoo 17, which was in tribute to Victoria

Brooklyn has more than 70 tattoos in tribute to his wife Nicola Peltz, who is supposedly at the centre of his feud with his parents

One of the tributes includes his wife’s surname written across the nepo baby’s chest

Brooklyn has both his and his wife’s surnames scrawled on his stomach, after taking her name when they married.

Speaking about the choice, he said: ‘It was my idea because I wanted to honour her family’s last name as well, and you know I thought when we have kids, I think it’ll be so cute to have little Peltz-Beckham’s running about.’

Brooklyn had Gina’s prayer inked on his torso, with the words reading: ‘Focused in the present, sincere towards others and trusting in our self, know that you cannot fail.’

He also has DVBRCH inked above Gina’s prayer. The initials are those of his family – David, Victoria, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper. 

Brooklyn was living it up on a boat with his in-laws when he was pictured with his tattoos on show.

The celebrity was seen launching himself into the water before indulging in a spot of water sports.

Speaking about his tattoos, the aspiring pH๏τographer and chef said: ‘They’re very addictive, especially when you love someone you just want to cover everywhere. I love her more than anything. I always try to make her happy. That’s all I do.’

Romeo boasts a variety of tattoos, including a ‘free spirit’ and a large dove on his wrist along with the words: ‘Lead with love.’

Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo visited a tattoo studio together in 2023 to mark their special bond. The trio each had the word ‘Brotherhood’ inked on different parts of their body 

There is also a stone angel statue, which covers the length of his forearm alongside a ‘freedom to dream’ torso inking.

He also has the word ‘love’ on his fingers, with a letter on each finger and a replica of David’s famous winged cross on his neck.

Earlier this year, Cruz showed off his latest tattoo after getting an inking of a record player on his arm.

He took to his Instagram Stories to share a picture of his body art after he went under the needle.

In the pH๏τograph, Cruz could be seen showing off the design on his bicep, which featured a needle on a record with the lid of the sound system open.

It came after the youngest son of David and Victoria shared a glimpse of himself at the tattoo parlour.

In a picture shared on his Instagram page, Cruz could be seen laying back as he wore a quirky pair of purple sunglᴀsses while glancing over towards the camera.

The tattoo artist seemed deep in concentration as he got to work on Cruz’s arm.