One of the football artists in highest demand is someone you’ve probably never heard of.
Pepe Perretta crafts his art with extreme care and no little love. The Argentinian makes tifos, the painted banners which have become famous all across the world. He first made one for Boca Juniors fans, then followed suit for their bitter rivals River Plate, and from there Perretta’s legend has grown.
His banners have made it as far as Madrid and Napoli, but his most famous one is still close to home – the tifo he made depicting the “holy trinity” of Argentina: Diego Maradona (God), Pope Francis (the Father), and Lionel Messi (the Messiah).
Les muestro el telón que pinté con mi equipo de trabajo para Argentina, saludos a todos Pepe Perretta @MotivacionesFpic.twitter.com/tg4jfHQ1Ux
— BAAEROGRAFIA (@pepeperretta) June 2, 2014
Perretta’s work has allowed him to meet some of Argentina’s most famous footballers, including Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Sergio Aguero.
His greatest fulfillment remains in pouring gallons of paint, as well as his heart and soul, into this banners. Perretta says every tifo he makes is “like a son” to him.