Celebrating Lionel Messi’s extraordinary career with a look at the luxury timepieces that reflect his love for Argentina!
With Lionel Messi announcing his retirement from international football just a few short days ago, it seems only fitting that we dedicate a celebrity watch-spotting article to one of the greatest athletes in sporting history, and arguably the greatest footballer of all time. From his extraordinary career at Barcelona to finally lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy with Argentina in 2022, Messi has achieved just about everything there is to achieve in football. What makes him admired around the world, however, is his influence that extends far beyond the pitch, and for us watch enthusiasts, this presents a whole new side to the Argentine superstar.
Rather than showcasing Messi’s entire watch collection, as it is indeed quite extensive and includes some of the most exclusive and expensive watches in the world, I thought it might be more fitting to take a slightly different approach. Throughout his career, Messi has never hidden his love and passion for Argentina. He has had many ups and downs with the national team, from losing back-to-back major international finals with the Albiceleste and briefly retiring from international football, to returning and helping Argentina secure their place at the 2018 World Cup, before ultimately going on to achieve every major trophy there is to win with his country. He is the very definition of nothing is impossible!
Is safe to say that Messi truly has had one of the most incredible careers with Argentina, and with that in mind, I’ve decided to focus this article on watches that reflect his connection to his homeland. Whether that be through direct collaborations, special editions dedicated to Argentina, or simply timepieces that feature the country’s iconic sky-blue-and-white colours. Now, I’m not claiming that every watch featured is an exact recreation of the national flag. But rather, we are exploring watches that reflect, complement, or draw visual parallels with Argentina’s colours!
And there’s certainly no shortage of incredible watches! So, as we celebrate the extraordinary career and legacy of Lionel Messi with Argentina, let’s take a closer look at some of the timepieces that capture the spirit of his homeland through the world of luxury watchmaking!
Jacob & Co Epic X Chrono Messi
One of the most fitting pieces in Messi’s collection is a timepiece dedicated to the man himself. In 2019, Messi collaborated with Jacob & Co. to create the Epic X Chrono Messi. As you can immediately tell, the timepiece is inspired by Argentina’s national colours, combining a light blue dial with white ceramic elements and red accents that directly reference Argentina’s flag and Messi’s national identity.
The timepiece features the unmistakable Epic X case from Jacob & Co., measuring 47mm in diameter and 14mm thick. The distinctive X-shaped architecture, white ceramic bezel, and contrasting blue inserts make this one of the boldest timepieces in Messi’s collection. There are also personal touches from Messi himself, with his famous number 10 appearing in red on the minute track, while his iconic stylised M logo is positioned at 6 o’clock. His signature is also incorporated into the blue-tinted sapphire caseback.
Reference: EC313.20.PE.LL.K
Case Dimensions: 47mm x 14mm Grade 5 titanium
International Retail Price: Approx. USD $26,000
Rolex Daytona 126538TBR
This next piece is one of Messi’s heavy-hitting timepieces, an exceptionally rare off-catalogue configuration of the Rolex Daytona. This is one of the brand’s more exclusive Daytona creations, featuring a turquoise dial, baguette-cut diamonds, and an 18ct yellow gold case. The turquoise dial is most certainly the star here, with each individual Daytona featuring a unique appearance thanks to the natural characteristics of the stone. The usual tachymeter bezel that we see on the Daytona has also been replaced with a baguette-cut diamond-set bezel, transforming this into a high-jewellery statement piece.
What makes this watch stand out beautifully, aside from the glistening shimmer of the diamonds, is how well the turquoise dial works with the black chronograph counters and the surrounding 40mm 18ct yellow gold case, chronograph pushers and crown. It’s a fitting choice for Messi’s Argentina-inspired timepiece collection, with many of the same colours reflected in his national team’s jersey.
Reference: 126538TBR (turquoise-dial variant)
Case Dimensions: 40mm 18ct yellow gold with diamond-set bezel and lugs
Australian Aftermarket Price: Approx. AUD $1,100,000
Rolex Day-Date 228206
This is arguably one of the best expressions of Rolex’s Day-Date model. First introduced in 1956, the Day-Date became Rolex’s flagship collection, with the design becoming iconic for displaying both the day of the week and the date. This edition, reference 228206, which was spotted on Messi’s wrist, is presented in 950 platinum rather than the more commonly seen gold variants. With platinum being denser than gold, it carries substantially more weight, making its presence known on the wrist.
But one of the defining traits of this Day-Date model is that stunning ice-blue dial. Rolex is known to reserve its ice-blue dials for the premium platinum editions, which also hints at the precious metal beneath at first glance. The dial is presented with a sunburst effect, which means that under different lighting angles, you get lighter to slightly darker tones of ice blue. While it complements Argentina’s national colours, what I love about this model is the Roman numeral hour markers, which add to the timepiece’s luxurious and elegant aesthetic.
Reference: 228206
Case Dimensions: 40mm x (approx.) 11.8mm thick, 950 Platinum
International Aftermarket Price: Approx. USD $67,000
Rolex Day-Date 128239
Messi doesn’t seem like the type of person to pass on a stunning turquoise dial, which is exactly what’s presented on this rare off-catalogue Rolex Day-Date, reference 128239. This is also a timepiece released this year as part of the brand’s off-catalogue collection, with the model, as you would expect, intended for a highly exclusive clientele. Compared to the Day-Date 228206 above, this model features a stunning turquoise dial, a fluted bezel, and blue sapphire hour markers.
Rather than the traditional Roman numerals, the dial’s baguette-cut blue sapphires not only beautifully complement the turquoise dial but also add to the model’s luxurious presence while making it even more exclusive. The 36mm Oyster case is also crafted from 18ct white gold, with the three-link President bracelet made from the same material. Its smaller proportions make it a more compact alternative to the platinum Day-Date 40, while still retaining that signature wrist presence of the Rolex Day-Date.
Reference: 128239-0083
Case Dimensions: 36mm x (approx. 12mm) 18ct White Gold
International Aftermarket Price: (Approx.) USD $68,000
Patek Philippe Nautilus “Tiffany” 5711/1A-018
There are a lot of timepieces in Messi’s collection that are instantly noticeable, but this particular Nautilus might just be the most recognisable model in his collection. For those who may be unaware, Patek Philippe created this timepiece as a celebration of 170 years of partnership with Tiffany & Co. Released in December 2021, the Nautilus 5711/1A-018 commemorates a partnership that started in 1851, making it one of the longest-standing partnerships between a Swiss watchmaker and an American luxury retailer.
Gérald Genta’s iconic Nautilus design, with its distinctive 40mm case measuring just 8.3mm thick, porthole-inspired architecture, and rounded octagonal bezel, gets the Tiffany Blue treatment. The vibrant turquoise-blue dial makes this one of the most sought-after Patek Philippe Nautilus models on the market. So much so that the watch became an instant collector’s phenomenon upon its introduction, with the first publicly auctioned example selling for approximately US$6.5 million! The Tiffany Blue dial also makes for a fitting tribute to Argentina’s national colours!
Reference: 5711/1A-018
Case Dimensions: 40mm x 8.3mm Stainless Steel
International Aftermarket Price: (Approx.) USD $1.5-2Million.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked
Messi’s watch collection features some seriously impressive heavy hitters, and this is another example of that. This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked was introduced in 2025 to celebrate the manufacture’s 150th anniversary, while also paying tribute to the brand’s longstanding expertise in high-complication watchmaking. Now, you may be wondering: how does this model connect to Messi’s Argentina colours? Well, while this timepiece features dark blue accents that aren’t associated with the team’s home jersey, they do, however, make for a visual match with the team’s darker blue away kits.
This timepiece features an openworked dial showcasing the Calibre 5135 movement, which is particularly significant as this model marked the final use of the perpetual calendar calibre before Audemars Piguet moved on to its next-generation movement. With a 41mm case made from titanium and Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG), a highly scratch-resistant material, the timepiece marks an important milestone in Royal Oak history, making it quite fitting for Messi’s extensive watch collection.
Reference: 26585XT.OO.1220XT.01
Case Dimensions: 41mm x 9.9mm Titanium and Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG)
International Aftermarket Price: (Approx.) USD $550,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept 26650FO
This particular Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepiece is a showcase of the brand’s experimental side. The Royal Oak Concept 26650FO was first introduced in September 2024, combining some of the brand’s most advanced materials and complications. The Concept collection is known to be a platform through which Audemars Piguet experiments with unconventional designs, complex movements and new technologies, some of which trickle down into the brand’s core collections.
Just like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked above, this Concept edition also features deep blue details alongside a skeletonised dial showcasing the intricacies of the automatic Calibre 4407. The movement itself combines a flyback chronograph, split-seconds chronograph, GMT functionality, and a large date display. The watch also debuted Audemars Piguet’s patented Chroma Forged Technology (CFT), an innovative form of forged carbon developed in-house. Outside of all these impressive details, another highlight of the watch is the incorporation of blue luminescent pigments directly into the forged carbon, allowing the case to really come to life at night!
Reference: 26650FO.OO.D353CA.01
Case Dimensions: 43mm x 17.4mm thick Chroma Forged Technology carbon, black ceramic, and titanium details
International Aftermarket Price: (Approx.) USD $190,000
Tudor Black Bay Chrono Flamingo Blue
Following the success of the Black Bay Chrono Pink edition, Tudor introduced the Flamingo Blue model in 2025, and with Messi being a fan of light blue dials (understandably so), it naturally found its way into his collection. Both models showcase Tudor’s willingness to experiment with bright and unconventional colours, all while retaining the familiar chronograph design.
The 41mm case retains the Black Bay Chrono’s characteristic proportions, which also include design elements such as the domed sapphire crystal and prominent screw-down chronograph pushers. The colour, however, is what makes this model instantly recognisable. Paired with the white luminescent indices and hands, as well as the two contrasting black chronograph counters, this model has a noticeably different personality from the other chronograph models in Tudor’s collection.
Reference: M79360N-0024
Case Dimensions: 41mm x 14.4mm 316L Stainless Steel
Australian Retail Price: AUD $9,850
Hublot Big Bang Unico Titanium Asociación del Fútbol Argentina
The Hublot Big Bang Unico Titanium Asociación del Fútbol Argentino is perhaps the most fitting timepiece to round out this article, celebrating Argentina’s historic 2022 FIFA World Cup victory. Hublot introduced this model in 2024 as part of a three-watch collection that featured a Big Bang Unico in King Gold, a Big Bang Unico in titanium and a Classic Fusion combining titanium, ceramic and King Gold. This 42mm titanium edition is limited to just 25 pieces and proudly showcases the national team’s iconic colours.
Beyond its striking colours, the Big Bang Unico retains Hublot’s signature openworked design, offering a glimpse into the mechanical movement beneath the dial. One of the most distinctive details of the timepiece is the miniature FIFA World Cup trophy incorporated into the small seconds display at 9 o’clock, serving as a reminder of the epic journey Messi’s international career has taken over two decades. With its national colours, limited production, and direct connection to one of football’s greatest moments, this Hublot is a fitting tribute to Argentina’s success and the legacy Messi leaves behind!