The ripple of the net after a Jude Bellingham strike is no longer the only ripple attracting attention. During England’s World Cup campaign, the midfielder’s prominent thigh veins have become an internet talking point.

They may look dramatic, but visible veins are common in elite athletes. The explanation begins with anatomy. Superficial veins lie in or just beneath the tissue under the skin, so they are easier to see when relatively little fat covers them. High-intensity exercise can reduce fat mass, although genetics and overall body composition also influence how visible someone’s veins are.

Footballers also develop powerful leg muscles through years of sprinting and rapid changes of direction. Exercise then makes the veins more noticeable. Working muscles need more oxygen, so blood flow to them rises sharply. Muscle contractions squeeze nearby veins, helping to push blood back towards the heart. As circulation increases, superficial veins can temporarily look wider and more raised.

A 2023 study of highly active adults found that greater physical activity was associated with larger lower-limb veins, without greater functional discomfort. The finding suggests that sustained training can affect vein size, although it cannot tell us........

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