The contents of a tattoo say a lot about the individual wearing it. Not only are they an expression of art, they’re an expression of a person’s character and values, which explains the rationale behind ‘Caps Ink – a fun series that brings you closer to your favourite Whitecaps FC, and WFC2, stars.
The two sides of Blas Pérez have been well documented.
A pest on the pitch, Pérez is widely heralded as a great teammate – and person – off it. When it comes to Pérez as a person, there are two things you need to know: he’s a family man who loves his country. His tattoos are Exhibit A.
The Panamanian striker has over 30 of them, many of which revolve around his family and country. On his chest, he has portraits of both his parents. All three of his children are also recognized with either portraits or their handwritten names. “Jatniel,” written on his right forearm, is the name of his youngest son.
Right below, there’s a depiction of Pérez’s patented bull horn celebration, which is a tribute to his late father who was nicknamed The Bull. His father, Blas Pérez Sr., used to wear a cowboy hat, thus the cowboy hat seen on his upper arm.
“He had the same name as me and he said it with a lot of pride,” Pérez told MLS Insider of his father. “Likewise, I am very proud to carry his name and represent him somehow and represent my country as well, which is what he wanted.”
Pérez, a 35-year-old native of Panama City, is Panama’s second all-time leading goalscorer and third all-time appearances leader. He has a tattoo of the Panamanian flag on his left forearm and the Panamanian coat of arms on the side.
“People sometimes tell me, ‘Blas, you are crazy. How can you get a tattoo of your country’s flag?” he told MLS Insider. “No, because I like it. I really feel a lot of love for Panama. And also, I like tattoos. It is beautiful art that I will have for life.”
Pérez and the Panamanian national team open the 2016 Copa America Centenario vs. Bolivia today at 4 p.m. PT before facing Argentina on Friday and Chile on Tuesday, June 14.
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