Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Lionel Messi spotted wearing Rolex

Lionel Messi was photographed wearing a Rolex Datejust 41 ref. 126231 during a dinner engagement in Paris, his new home city following a seismic transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. The setting was casual, the watch choice characteristically low-key for a man who owns one of football's most formidable personal collections.

The Rolex Datejust 41 reference 126231 is a two-tone configuration built from Oystersteel and Rolex's proprietary 18k Everose gold. Unlike standard rose gold, Everose incorporates a platinum additive in its alloy composition, giving it superior resistance to colour fading over time — a detail that justifies its premium over conventional rose gold. The 41mm Oyster case houses the Calibre 3235, a manufacture movement introduced with the 2016 generation of Datejust references, delivering a 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, and a date display with the brand's near-instantaneous Saros date-change mechanism. The Jubilee bracelet — a five-link design dating back to the Datejust's 1945 debut — grounds the watch in the model's historical identity while the Everose gold centre links provide its contemporary appeal.

Among collectors, the 126231 occupies a sensible middle ground. It avoids the full-precious-metal price of an all-gold Datejust while delivering genuine material richness through the two-tone treatment. The reference has consistent demand on the secondary market, with grey-market premiums remaining moderate compared to sportier Rolex references — making it a rare point of relative accessibility in the current Rolex landscape.

Messi's watch wardrobe is well-documented. He has been photographed with Richard Mille collaborations bearing his name, Patek Philippe complications, and multiple Rolex references across different contexts. The choice of a Datejust 41 for a dinner setting reflects considered dressing — recognisable without ostentation, and classically proportioned at 41mm on the wrist.

At a retail list price of approximately $13,280, the Rolex Datejust 41 ref. 126231 sits at the entry tier of the current Datejust range in two-tone configuration. Grey-market values have held steadily above retail given continued Rolex supply constraints, though premiums for this reference remain modest relative to steel sports models. For a watch spotted on arguably the greatest footballer of all time, the Datejust 41's enduring appeal needs no further endorsement.