The soccer star left Barcelona last week after 21 years at the club.
What kind of watch do you wear for your first day at a new job? If you are Lionel Messi, the answer is easy: a Rolex.
The Argentinian soccer star was seen wearing a gorgeous pink-colored Yacht-Master when he arrived in Paris to sign with PSG on Tuesday afternoon. The watch, sporty but stylish, was a fitting choice for a player signing his first contract with a team other than the one he played for as a child.
Barcelona shocked the sports world last week when it announced that Messi would be leaving the club after 21 years. Years of financial mismanagement and a recently tightened salary cap meant the Spanish club could no longer pay, even after he accepted a drastically reduced new contract. Monday’s tearful goodbye to the Barça fans suggested that Messi is probably not the happiest about moving to the French capital, but it is clear that he is trying to make the most of a difficult situation. And the first step in that process was showing up to his new job with a smile on his face, “this is Paris” printed on his t-shirt and a Yacht-Master on his wrist.
And what a watch Messi chose for his first day. the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Masteɾ, ref. 126655, is a true beauty that this magazine has referred to as an “era-defining watch.” It features a 40mm 18K Everose gold case that houses a black dial and is finished with a matte black ceramic bezel. It is powered by the watchmaker’s next-generation 3225 automatic movement, has a 70-hour power reserve, and a durable Oysterflex bracelet with a matching Everose safety clasp. It sells for $27,300, which is no small sum, but Messi’s new two-season contract is believed to be worth approximately $40 million a year.
Meanwhile, the soccer star’s Rolex wasn’t the only luxury watch on display Tuesday. During the formal announcement of Messi’s contract, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi could be seen with the new Patek Philippe NaᴜTιƖus. You know, the one with the olive green sunray dial that has become virtually impossible to find since its release this spring? Of course, when he makes $40 million a year, or he can write a check for that amount, in-demand watches are a little easier to find.