<p>A watch collection that would make even the most seasoned collectors envious.</p>

<p>While the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to dominate headlines with stories from the pitch, Lionel Messi has found himself in the spotlight for a different reason. A muscle injury sustained during the domestic season forced him off the field early, prompting questions about whether he will make a sixth World Cup appearance. Yet for one of the world's most influential athletes, the conversation has never been limited to football.</p>
<p>From his performances on the pitch to his life away from it, every aspect of Messi's world quickly becomes a topic of discussion. Even the watches on the Argentine legend's wrist have repeatedly become objects of fascination among collectors.</p>

<p>To mark the 100th anniversary of the Oyster collection, Rolex introduced a series of special-edition designs, including the Oyster Perpetual 36 worn by Lionel Messi during this year's World Cup. It is an intriguing choice. Among countless more complicated and flamboyant watches, he opted for what appears to be the most understated Oyster Perpetual of the collection. This anniversary edition stands out with a multicolored lacquer dial, its vibrant hues resembling colors washed over by the evening light. The ROLEX lettering across the dial was not created with a single application of paint, but built up through multiple layers of lacquer applied with almost no margin for error.</p>

<h2>Patek Philippe Cubitus Ref. 7128/1R-001</h2>

<p>Messi owns the Cubitus Ref. 7128/1R-001, one of Patek Philippe's most talked-about releases in recent years. Its rose gold case has a bold rounded-square shape without appearing overly rigid, while the brown sunburst dial introduces just the right amount of softness. Between the vertically satin-brushed surfaces, polished bevels catch the light, creating a different play of reflections with every movement of the wrist.</p>
<p>The Cubitus is also proof that a luxury sports watch doesn't have to be oversized to express strength, just as true luxury doesn't always need to be covered in diamonds or logos. Sometimes, what captures attention is simply perfect proportions and an exceptional level of finishing. That has long been one of Patek Philippe's greatest strengths, well before "quiet luxury" became the industry's favorite phrase.</p>

<h2>Patek Philippe Twenty~4 Ref. 7340/1R-010</h2>

<p>Not every watch is designed to appeal to the masses, and the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 is one such example. For years, the collection was almost exclusively associated with women—until Lionel Messi wore the Twenty~4 Ref. 7340/1R-010.</p>
<p>It is the first Twenty~4 with a round case that features no diamonds. Rather than relying on gemstones for brilliance, Patek Philippe lets its materials, proportions, and finishing speak for themselves. Beneath its understated exterior lies a Perpetual Calendar, one of mechanical watchmaking's most sophisticated and enduring complications. Quietly tracking the passage of time, it automatically accounts for leap years—something most of us only remember when February gains an extra day.</p>

<h2>Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "150th Anniversary" Openworked</h2>

<p>Before becoming a devoted collector, Messi served as a Global Brand Ambassador for Audemars Piguet. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "150th Anniversary" Openworked was created to celebrate the Le Brassus manufacture's 150th anniversary. Its octagonal case, eight hexagonal screws, satin-brushed surfaces, and polished bevels preserve the design language that has made the Royal Oak one of haute horlogerie's most recognizable icons.</p>
<p>Beneath the skeletonized dial is a new-generation perpetual calendar movement equipped with a crown-operated adjustment system. By simply pulling the crown to different positions, the wearer can set the time, date, month, leap year, and wind the movement without the need for dedicated correction tools.</p>

<p>Created for the racetrack in the early 1960s, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona gradually moved beyond the world of motorsport to become one of the most sought-after watches on the planet. The more frequently it appears in conversations among collectors, the rarer it seems to become on the wrists of those hoping to own one.</p>
<p>Alongside more familiar Daytona references, Messi also owns the extremely rare turquoise-dial version, as well as an 18K yellow gold model with a pink dial limited to just 10 pieces worldwide. These are the kinds of watches many collectors will only ever encounter in auction catalogues or behind the glass displays of boutiques.</p>

<p>For years, the watch industry maintained an invisible line between historic watch manufactures and fashion houses venturing into watchmaking. Louis Vuitton once belonged to the latter. Yet in just over two decades, the French Maison patiently achieved what very few fashion brands have: building credibility through watchmaking expertise rather than branding alone.</p>
<p>The Tambour on Lionel Messi's wrist as he accepted his eighth Ballon d'Or showcased the collection's new direction more clearly than any advertising campaign could. Following its redesign in 2023, the Tambour became slimmer and more refined. The case was streamlined, the bracelet fully integrated, the proportions recalibrated, while the sunburst dial combines with sandblasted finishing to let light create subtle movement across its surface.</p>

<h2>Jacob &amp; Co. Epic X Chrono Messi</h2>

<p>If Louis Vuitton embraces restraint, Jacob &amp; Co. has never seemed to believe in the concept. Jacob Arabo's world was never built for those who prefer discretion. From the very beginning, the brand deliberately pursued larger diamonds, bolder architecture, more complex mechanisms, and, inevitably, greater controversy. To traditional watch enthusiasts, Jacob &amp; Co. was once seen as a brand that enjoyed making a statement.</p>
<p>The Epic X Chrono Messi is the result of a collaboration between Lionel Messi and Jacob &amp; Co., limited to 180 pieces worldwide. Light blue and white stretch across the dial as a tribute to Argentina, while the letter "M" at six o'clock transforms the watch into something more personal than a conventional limited edition. Its sapphire dial is almost entirely open, confidently revealing the bridges, gears, and chronograph mechanism instead of concealing them beneath solid finishing, as many Swiss watchmakers traditionally do.</p>

A Deep Dive Into Lionel Messi's Iconic Watch Collection

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