Hamilton, Joshua, Stokes, Neymar, McGregor and more sports stars who love showing off their lion tat

IT'S an animal that represents strength and courage, so why not?

Sports stars love tattoos. We've seen scores of our heroes covered head-to-toe in fancy body art whenever they've stripped off on the pitch or at the beach on their holidays.

But SunSport has noticed a new trend forming amongst the sporting elite - a must-have tat that apes their fearless nature.

They're all getting lions inked on their chiselled torsos, and here's the best we've seen.

ANTHONY JOSHUA

Joshua was clearly thinking practically, but he certainly used his loaf for this new etching.

As is the danger with being a professional boxer, it's likely your hands will develop calluses from repeatedly punching bags and opponents.

So that's why the former champ got a lion in a forest tattooed on his middle finger, with one of the calluses acting as the moon. Genius.

BEN STOKES

If his performances in the World Cup final and the recent third Ashes test are anything to go by, Stokes is full of bravado and pomp.

Therefore, a lion tat is fitting for a man who single-handedly saved England from a mauling by the Aussies.

His lions cover his entire back... it must've taken ages to do.

The African Lion symbolises mastering your emotions..."

LEWIS HAMILTON

The F1 ace doesn't usually show off his tats, often seen just sat in a car covered in racing attire.

However, when he's enjoying some downtime - normally on the beach - you'll see his upper body covered in ink.

And it's his lion tat on his shoulder, designed by New York artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy, that he's most proud of.

He wrote on Instagram: "The African Lion symbolises mastering your emotions... The African lion roars ferociously and the roar can be heard for miles... It is summoning the power of the sun to be unleashed at his will, he proclaims his power as a message and a warning."

MAURO ICARDI

You can bet his super-agent missus Wanda Nara loves this tat.

Like Stokes, the Argie forward has his entire torso covered in lions - Icardi opted to have them on the front of his chest, mind.

And there's a sweet dedication in there too. Included in the design are the names of their children, Francesca and Isabella thrown in for good measure.

I just was floating through Venice and I said ‘f*** it, I’m gonna get a tiger.’ A tiger has been jumping out at me sometimes…. I think the tiger is a courageous animal."

CONOR MCGREGOR

UFC fighter McGregor got his lion tattoo inked on his stomach in a whim, and who would argue with him.

“I just was floating through Venice and I said ‘f*** it, I’m gonna get a tiger.’

"A tiger has been jumping out at me sometimes…. I think the tiger is a courageous animal."

The lion on my back represents me – I have the heart of a lion."

MEMPHIS DEPAY

In the past, the Dutch forward has claimed to have been "brought up in the jungle" and the majority of his tattoos represent his rough upbringing.

And it was during his il-fated spell at Man Utd that Depay got a huge tattoo of a lion, he claimed took 24 hours, on his back.

“The lion on my back represents me – I have the heart of a lion," he said.

"I got it done in Manchester. It took a long time because it’s so big, maybe like 24 hours in total."

NEYMAR

The PSG star has claimed his body art is a record of his life.

All in all, he has around 46 tats - with two lion tattoos prominent on his sculpted body.

There's one on his left hand, as well another on the outer side of his left forearm.

It's a wonder he has anywhere else left to ink.

SERGIO RAMOS

Another football legend who loves tattoos - religious Ramos has several, including the Virgin Mary on his arm.

But it's his back-tat of a lion that really stands out on his body when he pulls his shirt off.

The cloudy sky at dawn, plains of a jungle and a tree are tattooed in the background of the Lion just to give it some more oomph.

When I step on the pitch, I am a Lion!"

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC

Confidence, strength... they're two words that go hand-in-hand with the way Zlatan plays.

So it's no wonder the former Man Utd striker has a lion perfectly inked on his muscular back.

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Zlatan did once say of tattoos they are "like a drug for me" and we bet he couldn't wait to show this one off.

Which is what he did on social media last year, with the caption: "When I step on the pitch, I am a Lion!"

Yep, that sounds about right.

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