2023 is a gap year between major events in men’s soccer. After the national teams courted controversy to compete in Qatar in 2022, Europe’s biggest soccer players are now training for the 2024 European Championship, which will be held in Germany. (Incidentally, tickets for the summer event go on sale on October 3, 2023 – German Unity Day.) Some of the world’s best players will once again be taking part in the European Championship. The question is, what watches will they be sporting?
Cristiano Ronaldo: The Soccer World’s Watch Champion
Cristiano Ronaldo, aka “CR7,” is without a doubt one of the world’s greatest center forwards. His fervent soft-spot for exclusive watches has earned the Portuguese superstar a dazzling reputation off the field as well. The striker with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr FC and captain of the Portuguese national team also recently became an investor in Chrono24, where he has long been a luxury watch punter. Ronaldo’s taste in timepieces makes one thing clear: diamonds aren’t just a girl’s best friend but a soccer legend’s best bud, too.
Take, for example, the 38-year-old’s Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116769TBR. This GMT-Master in 18-karat white gold is completely encrusted with white diamonds totaling 30 carats. The price on Chrono24 in July 2023: over $770,000. Can we get a little pricier? Like the Franck Muller 7008 T INV C INV R, for example? This little treasure is thought to be worth over $1.7 million. The watch gleams with red and white, invisible-set, baguette-cut diamonds and features a tourbillion.
Another big purchase was the Bulgari Octo Tourbillon Full Baguette Diamonds. This watch is part of a limited edition of just eight pieces worldwide, and sells for approximately $760,000. As you can see, Ronaldo likes a lush diamond setting.
Since 2022, CR7 has been an official partner of luxury watch manufacturer Jacob & Co. The partnership has already resulted in the new Jacob & Co x CR7 Epic X collection and four new watches: The Flight of CR7 and the Heart of CR7 both come with the option of a diamond-studded bezel. The 44-mm models feature a likeness of Ronaldo, along with the inscription “CR7” and his signature. The Flight of CR7 is made of rose gold and incorporates red elements in its design, including the rehaut and strap. The stainless steel Heart of CR7 features green accents. The most expensive variant is the Flight of CR7 with diamonds, which retails for $145,000. The model without diamonds costs just $56,000.
In early 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jacob & Co. followed up with a new watch. To mark the start of Ronaldo’s career in Saudi Arabia, the manufacturer launched a tourbillon model in the green tone of the Saudi Arabian flag. Known as the Caviar Tourbillon Tsavorites, the timepiece is adorned with 388 tsavorites and will set you back $770,000.
Patek-Loving Soccer Stars Zlatan Ibrahimović and Virgil van Dijk
Zlatan Ibrahimović recently retired after a remarkably long career. We nevertheless want to take a look at two of the beautiful watches he wore off the field. One of the watches the Swede has been spotted sporting on his wrist is the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980/1R-001. This rose gold variant of the legendary Nautilus features a chronograph and date function and has an official MSRP of $108,820. However, since the Nautilus is one of the most popular watches around, it’s practically impossible to get one for that price. This timepiece is likely to set you back at least $220,000 on the secondary market.
Ibrahimović’s watch collection also includes a Rolex Daytona ref. 11651LN. Ibrahimović’s model is made of 18-karat white gold and fitted with a black Oysterflex bracelet. The watch also features an eye-catching Gibeon meteorite dial. The price point for this timepiece is approximately $44,000.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is a big luxury watch fan. The Dutchman has often been seen wearing a white gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5168-G-010 with a green dial and matching strap. The MSRP for this timepiece is a solid $49,090. However, the timepiece has somewhat of a cult following, which has boosted prices to over $90,000 (as of July 2023).
Kylian Mbappé: Hublot’s Brand Ambassador
French soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé is brand ambassador for Hublot. One of the most extravagant pieces to adorn his wrist so far is the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang King Gold Rainbow (641.OX.0110.LR.0999). The watch is made of King Gold, an exclusive gold-platinum alloy, and set with a rainbow of colored gemstones that make the case, dial, and bezel sparkle. Officially, the watch costs $97,900, but prices on Chrono24 start at just over $82,000.
On the Field and on their Wrists: Antoine Griezmann and Sergio Ramos
Another famous footballer is Frenchman Antoine Griezmann of Atlético Madrid. Griezmann is the former brand ambassador of HYT Watches. The manufacturer dedicated a limited edition of 20 pieces to the star player, the titanium H1 Antoine Griezmann ref. 148-DB-07-BF-FW, which had an official list price of $55,250. Griezmann wore many different watches during his career, the most famous of which is probably the Rolex Rainbow Daytona in Everose gold, with 36 baguette-cut sapphires. This timepiece (ref. 116595RBOW) cost just over $380,000 in July 2021, but prices have risen sharply since then. As of July 2023, the watch demands an investment of at least $600,000.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos owns the same Daytona as Griezmann, but in yellow gold. Ramos is famous among watch fans for his remarkable watch collection. One of his treasured timepieces is the same Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980/1R-001 that Zlatan Ibrahimović owns. Ramos also has an Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A-001. The watch is listed for just $55,000, but changes hands on Chrono24 for over $148,000. The defender’s collection is also home to other Audemars Piguet Royal Oak models.
Three Lions on the Shirt, Fine Watches on the Wrist: England’s National Team
English teams can also boast a few players with a weak spot for luxury watches. Midfielder Dele Alli (currently kicking for Beşiktaş Istanbul) is known for owning numerous Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks. One of his most notable timepieces is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Black Skeleton made of 18-karat rose gold, which fetches upwards of $126,000. Alli also owns a stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus 3712/1A-001. This 42-mm model is rare and was produced for only a year, starting in 2005. The average asking price for this timepiece is well over $250,000.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane also boasts a great collection of luxury watches, including the almost obligatory Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph 5980/1R-001 in 18-karat rose gold owned by so many soccer players. Another watch in Kane’s possession is the Patek Philippe Split Seconds Chronograph 5370P. This refined and technically impressive platinum timepiece sells for approximately $267,000. At the Qatar World Cup in 2022, Kane caused a sensation before the game against Iran by wearing his Rolex Daytona Rainbow. He wore the watch in protest after the team was forbidden from wearing the One Love armband as a sign of solidarity with the LGBT+ community.
If you like your watches more extravagant still, you should definitely take a look at the watches from Richard Mille. French soccer player Paul Pogba is another one of our exclusive luxury watch brand fans, proud owner of a Richard Mille RM 030 White Rush, a limited edition of just 50 timepieces made of white ceramic and black NTPT carbon. The watch demands an investment of over $440,000. Dutchman and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, on the other hand, owns a titanium RM 055 Bubba Watson with a ceramic bezel. As of mid-2023, this timepiece changed hands on Chrono24 for roughly $330,000.
Manchester City trainer Pep Guardiola, however, tops them all. Guardiola has several Richard Mille watches in his collection, the most exclusive of which is the RM 022 Tourbillon Aerodyne Dual Time Zone, worth nearly $1 million.
Erling Haaland – Over A Million in Watches
Last but not least, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has perhaps what is the most comprehensive watch collection covered in this article. Haaland owns a whole range of high-end luxury watches, of which the Rolex Submariner “Kermit” aka “Starbucks” ref. 126610LV is probably the most affordable at approximately $16,900. Along with a variety of other Rolex models in stainless steel, yellow gold, and platinum, the footballer also owns a golden Rolex Daytona “Eye of the Tiger” ref. 116588TBR with a skeletonized dial. The watch features a bezel studded with 36 white diamonds and diamond hour markers. The price tag? Approximately $230,000.
Haaland’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak salmon dial (ref. 26615TI.OO.1220TI.01), limited to just 300 pieces, is more valuable still. The watch demands an investment of around $236,000 on Chrono24. As of summer 2023, his yellow gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra Thin with a gold dial (ref. 16202BA) sells for about $308,000.
If you add up all of Haaland’s watches, you’ll easily surpass the $1 million mark. What other 23-year-old can boast such a valuable watch collection?
That’s our look at the luxury watches of selected soccer superstars. Which player do you envy most?