Joe Hart arm tattoo explained after it becomes huge talking point during Euro 2024 coverage

Joe Hart's appearance as a pundit ahead of Sunday night's Group C clash between England and Serbia has become a huge talking point online.

The 37-year-old former England international, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, featured on BBC One throughout their pre-game coverage in Gelsenkirchen.

Here, he displayed his 'armour' tattoo to the nation.

Back in 2018, the former Manchester City and Celtic goalkeeper decided to get a 'blackwork' tattoo on his leg to match his upper body inking.

Hart revealed his delight at the artwork before saying it's "not everyone's taste" but it "definitely represents me."

He added: "You are the man @hanumantra thank you, this is the only time of year I could take this on so I appreciate you fitting me in and smashing it.

"I got my armour on now... let's see what's next. Not everyone's taste I understand that but this definitely represents me and thank you for making it happen."

Joe Hart's keen to see Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield tonight ✨#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #SRBENG pic.twitter.com/Ekp9nvkQ40

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 16, 2024

So what is 'blackwork'? Tattoo artist Hanumatra Lemar explained the process on his website.

"Blackwork is a tattoo choice, it's a lifestyle and it's a philosophy, believing that less really is more and understanding that we should not be afraid to stand out in world full of people trying to fit in," he said.

"Every tattoo Hanumantra undertakes is exclusively created for the client. The time is taken to handcraft each individual design, conveying and amplifying the inner strength of spirit of the wearer.

"This allows them to feel empowered and protected as though a layer of tattoo armour is placed upon them, creating a modern day warrior ready for today's battles."

Hart, meanwhile, was delighted to take up the punditry role at this summer's tournament.

"The reason I wanted to get into punditry is to educate people who are interested in goalkeeping, and hopefully I can help people understand the position a bit better," he told BBC.

"I'll be trying my best to do that by giving a goalkeeper's perspective, which can be very different to that of an outfield player. Sometimes when a goal goes in, the analysis you see on TV is about how the keeper should have done better, or has made a mistake.

"That can be the case, of course, and I am not here to protect goalkeepers from criticism, but part of the way I analysed my own performances during my career was to work out exactly why things happened.

"There is often a lot more to a goal than might first appear and I want to try to explore and explain that, and all the different variables that can affect the goalkeeper - from the positions they take up and how they work with their defenders, to the movement of the ball and everything else that is happening in front of them.

"These are things that might seem simple but they really aren't - and I am willing to go into that detail."

Hart is best known within English football for his 11-year spell at Manchester City, where he won two Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014.