Leonardo gets tattoo of K League trophy following Ulsan Hyundai's long-awaited title win

After helping fire Ulsan Hyundai to the 2022 Hana 1Q K League 1 title, Brazilian striker Leonardo has got the K League 1 trophy tattooed on his right leg.

Leonardo and the rest of the Ulsan Hyundai squad have etched their names into history by helping guide the Horangi to their first K League title in 17 years.

And now, the Brazilian - who scored 11 and assisted four in 2022 - has the K League trophy etched onto his body forever with a tattoo of the title triumph.

"When we won the league I decided to get this tattoo," says Leandro speaking to K League United. "For me, it was the most important title of my career because it was a title when I had a very big contribution and the club hadn't won it for 17 years."

Leonardo's K League title tattoo with date it was sealed, 16th October 2022

Leandro also revealed that he hadn't told anyone at Ulsan about this idea for the tattoo. Many, then, will only have found out when pictures appeared on his Instagram story on Sunday, 18th December.

The tattoo is on his right leg and the reason why is simple - because that's his "predominant leg" and where most of his goals came from.

Leonardo spent the 2022 season on loan at Ulsan from Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan and confirmed back in October that he would not be extending his stay with the club.

The 25-year-old made 34 appearances for the Horangi in the league, 22 from the start and scored some important goals for the club.

His first was the match-winner away to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in March and his second goal, a 90th-minute penalty at home to FC Seoul, was also the goal that decided the game.

He also scored the all-important opener in the East Coast Derby against Pohang in March, finding the back of the net in the 71st minute in an eventual 2-0 win.

His last goal for the club came in Round 33 in September, a penalty to make it 1-0 in a 2-0 victory over Suwon FC.

In terms of scoring in matches to turn defeats into draws and draws into wins, Leandro's goals helped Ulsan win 10 extra points. 

What comes next remains to be seen but Leandro admits that winning the K League 1 title has made him hungry for more:

"I want to come back to Korea and win more [in] K League."