Mario Mandzukic's backwards Hebrew tattoo has become an internet sensation. PHOTO: EPA

A Hebrew tattoo sported by Croatian soccer star Mario Mandzukic became an internet sensation in Israel after it was exposed on Tuesday during a Champions League match between Ateltico Madrid and Real Madrid

A first glance, the tattoo, on the athlete’s back, might leave one with the impression that it was an unfortunate artistic mistake, since the Hebrew letters do not make sense as they are written. However, a closer look at the tattoo shows that it was actually written backwards and says, “What does not kill me, strengthens me.”

It would seem that the striker, and his tattoo artist, weren’t aware that Hebrew is written from right to left, and that they had no one to advise on how to have the tattoo properly written.