The Javanese tattoo: modern and traditional

With sleeve tattoos taking over both arms and numerous designs fighting for space across his torso, David Beckham’s commitment to body-art would make a veteran Hell’s Angel proud.

His latest piece of needle work, a depiction of Jesus on his lower right abdomen, received its first public airing at the weekend during AC Milan’s 3-0 win over Juventus.

Here below, we chart the history of the former England skipper’s seemingly never-ending collection of tattoos.

David first got the body art bug when he became a dad in 1999. To commemorate Brooklyn’s birth, the then Man United star had his son’s name written in gothic script across his lower back.

Becks followed this up with a guardian angel a bit further up.

In 2000, David opted to have his wife Victoria’s name tattooed in Hindi on his left arm, believing it to be less tacky than having it etched in English. Sadly for Goldenballs, things didn’t go quite to plan, with the tribute being misspelt as “Vihctoria”.

David took a break from tatts for a couple of years, before having the number 7 – his shirt number for Man United and England – emblazoned on his right forearm in 2002.

A year later, he went for a Latin-inspired double, with the phrase "Perfectio In Spiritu", on his right arm ("Spiritual Perfection") and Ut Amem Et Foveam", ( "So That I Love And Cherish"), on his left. Making sure son number two didn’t feel left out, Beckham had Romeo's name added to his back, along with a classical art design on his right shoulder.

2004 saw Becks get a large winged cross on the back of his neck, along with an Angel on his right arm with the motto "In the Face of Adversity".

Baby number three meant another trip to the tattoo parlour, with Becks having Cruz’s name inked at the bottom of his neck in 2005.

In 2006 David and Victoria had matching wrist tattoos of the Roman numerals VIII.V.MMVI, which stand for the date of their secret commitment ceremony on May 8, 2006.

To mark his family’s move to America after signing for LA Galaxy, David treated himself to another angel tattoo along with a Templar Knight. The design includes the Latin motto "Let them hate as long as they fear."

At the end of 2007, Becks had a six-inch tattoo of Victoria on his arm. The etching is a copy of his favourite photo of his wife - a Brigitte Bardot-inspired shot she did for Pop magazine. The phrase "forever by your side" was later added to the bottom of the tattoo.

The year 2008 was a busy one for Beckham body art. In March of that year the midfielder showed off a large Chinese motif running down his left rib-cage. The text translates as: "Death and life have determined appointments. Riches and honour depend upon heaven."

Beckham’s left arm became even more crowded towards the end of that year with a line of Hebrew text that reads: “My son, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart.”

The tattoo is a partner piece to another Hebrew saying that David has scrawled on his arm that reads: "I am my beloved and my beloved is mine."

To mark his 10th wedding anniversary, David last year had a ring of 10 roses inked on his upper left arm.