A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

El Pibe de Oro

This great portrait of Diego Armando Maradona (an Argentinian soccer player) was tattooed by Alex de Pase in Grado, Italy (previously: jester tattoo).

Comments

49 responses to “El Pibe de Oro”

  1. Bastian Avatar
    Bastian

    EX, please. EX-football (soccer) player.
    Anyone remember “un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de Dios“?
    but kudos for the execution of the tattoo…

  2. ammre Avatar

    Woah. That’s amazing.

  3. Frester Avatar

    I hate portrait tattoos, but that is amazing work

  4. owned Avatar
    owned

    Holy crap, that looks like a photo.

  5. midnight_d Avatar
    midnight_d

    Oh. Wow.

  6. amber Avatar
    amber

    I usually hate portrait tattoos too, but that is amazing.

  7. Hyrulehippie Avatar
    Hyrulehippie

    I love the way he works the person’s skin color INTO the tattoo itself. The shading is amazing. There are no harsh lines, but blending instead.

    The details are crisp, and the highlights realistic.

    Plus, the portrait doesn’t look like a disembodied floating head. I love the hair coming out of the classic oval frame

    Awesome enough to warrant me coming out of lurking. ^__^

  8. Dominique Avatar

    WOW!! This looks like an oil painting! If this guy ever comes stateside, post a notice!

  9. zusanna Avatar

    yeah i’m not too fond of portraits either. i was on the phone with someone and was like “oh muh gud.” it just pops out at you. wow. good stuff…

  10. Mari Avatar
    Mari

    So vivid and realistic! Great work!

  11. Amber Avatar

    I’m not into the subject matter, but as everyone else seems to have said – that’s one amazingly executed tattoo.

  12. lcs Avatar
    lcs

    maradona? blaaah!

    PELÉ!

  13. Kirstin Avatar
    Kirstin

    holy shit!

  14. lilish Avatar
    lilish

    For once, a portrait that looks more real than a photograph. I love it.

  15. Elfling Avatar

    Wow, that is insanely good.

  16. Bryce Avatar
    Bryce

    I love how the use of white ink makes his (the subject’s) skin look as sweaty as it probably was when the original picture was taken.

  17. Isis pt Avatar

    O_O
    absolutely amazing!

  18. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    holy shit. this is amazing.

  19. fghtffyrdmns Avatar
    fghtffyrdmns

    that looks so real, it’s creeping me out.

  20. stormy Avatar

    Absolutely freaking amazing!

  21. rosie Avatar
    rosie

    What a reminder of the differences between North American culture and a lot of the rest of the world, that it should be necessary to explain who Maradona is! 😀

  22. Scott! Avatar

    yea 15 the white ink really makes the tattoo.

  23. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Nicely inked.

    He is still a cheating hand-balling bastard though !!! 8-D

  24. thierry_89 Avatar
    thierry_89

    this is mind blowing. looks like a real picture of a hand balling cheater

  25. Sal Avatar
    Sal

    ohhhh i like how he’s only known for being that guy who hand balled a goal.

  26. Jay.O Avatar
    Jay.O

    oh my, thats some truly amazing work!!

  27. Reedee Avatar

    Like Rosie said, who Maradona is shouldn’t really need explanation. Hes not a soccer player, he’s THE soccer player.

    There’s a reason he’s called god you now 🙂

  28. ÈMþRê§§ Avatar
    ÈMþRê§§

    I just checked the artists site out. What amazing work this tattoo above is incredible, I think maybe the best I have seen.

  29. adastra Avatar
    adastra

    God doesn’t cheat Reedee……. *sobs*

  30. alesita Avatar
    alesita

    wow, i also hate portrait tattoos but… my god… it’s so fucking realistic!!!

    GO ARGENTINAAAAA ^^

  31. wlcm2t3hmachine Avatar

    its like… oil paint…. omg, that is wonderful.

  32. whoa Avatar
    whoa

    wow… looks like the real thing lol

  33. Masticate Avatar

    #1 Ex or not the guy made huge impression in argentinian football down here he has great significance no matter what…

    The portrait is very VERY well done!

  34. Malicia Avatar
    Malicia

    Great portrait
    aguante Diegote!

  35. veronica Avatar

    omg. that’s an amazing portrait .. it looks so amazingly realistic

  36. kaylee Avatar
    kaylee

    the sweat is amazing, when I scrolled by I had to go back to figure out why there was a picture of an unmodified guy screaming. Very nice

  37. milky Avatar
    milky

    ARGENTINA PRIDE

  38. Super Muffin Avatar
    Super Muffin

    That is an amazing tattoo – it looks so much more real than most portrait tattoos out there.

  39. ahna Avatar

    I am very, very impressed.

  40. Halo Avatar
    Halo

    That is a very well executed tattoo on the artist’s part. Very realistic.

  41. Jaffa Avatar
    Jaffa

    Holy crap. They even got right down to the shaved mustache semi-stubble. Creepy, but amazing.

  42. kim Avatar

    excellent portrait. The best I’ve ever seen. Wow. I keep going back and looking at it, almost in disbelief. I cannot believe it is so lifelike.

  43. dani Avatar
    dani

    wow. that is freaking amazing.

  44. billiejane Avatar
    billiejane

    is the signature Maradona’s?
    I mean obviously he didn’t sign on the body, but I find the signature to be the most interesting part of the tattoo — at first I thought it was the artist’s but I looked at it again and that didn’t make any sense. Very cool tatoo.

  45. dannyd Avatar
    dannyd

    greatest tattoo i have ever seen, I would travel the world for a tattoo like that.

  46. fezzo Avatar
    fezzo

    that is one of the most realistic portraits i have ever seen :o!

Latest Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News

  • Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetry
    One of the most powerful things about being at a convention like OSC is the sheer concentration of experience, creativity, and capability in one place. When you’re surrounded by people who not only understand the technical complexities of suspension but are excited by the challenge… Read more: Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetry
  • Twelve Points to the Sky
    There’s a particular kind of magic that happens at your first big suspension gathering when you arrive with nerves, an open heart, and the quiet hope of flight. Guided by the encouragement of mentor Lynn Loheide and driven by the quiet confidence of belonging, Alex… Read more: Twelve Points to the Sky
  • Ontario SusCon 2025
    In March 2025, BME attended the Ontario Suspension Convention in Hamilton, hosted by the Kevin Donaghy and the Ontario Suspension Collective. We had the pleasure to take part and help document the event, but also run a booth to sell a bunch of old (but… Read more: Ontario SusCon 2025
  • Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
    Dear BME Community, We’ve been gone far too long, but BME is back to give people a voice, a space, a community. With time everything evolves, and BME may be different than you remember. Our goal is to stay true to Shannon and Rachel’s values… Read more: Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
  • BME Social Media
    Word of mouth has been our method of reuniting the community, and it has brought a substantial amount of us together. I am inspired by your loyalty and I want to remind more people of BME’s existence. In 2020 we gained control over @bmezine on… Read more: BME Social Media
  • BMEShop
    Despite the hurricanes in 2015 which destroyed almost all of what Rachel owned, she managed to save the original inventory from BME. We have relisted some of the stock on BMEShop.com with the hopes you may be interested.  Our first drop includes a selection of… Read more: BMEShop