Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic spotted wearing Rolex

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never been known for understatement, on the pitch or off it, and his choice of wristwear continues that tradition. The AC Milan striker was recently spotted wearing the stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II 'Sprite' on a Jubilee bracelet, reference 126720VTNR — one of the most talked-about sports watch releases of the past several years and a piece that remains genuinely difficult to source at retail.

Introduced at Watches & Wonders Geneva in 2022, the GMT-Master II 126720VTNR broke new ground for Rolex by relocating the winding crown to the left side of the 40mm Oystersteel case. The move is more than cosmetic: it makes the crown and crown guards less intrusive on the wrist for left-handed wearers, and it signals Rolex's willingness to revisit ergonomic assumptions baked into the line since 1955. The bidirectional 24-hour graduated Cerachrom bezel in black and green ceramic — earning the 'Sprite' nickname from collectors — sits in a tradition that includes the 'Pepsi' red-and-blue and 'Batman' black-and-blue variants. Beneath the dial, Calibre 3285 provides a 70-hour power reserve, a Chronergy escapement for improved efficiency, and Rolex's Parachrom hairspring for enhanced resistance to magnetic fields and shocks.

For collectors, the 126720VTNR occupies a specific and coveted niche. The left-crown configuration limits supply relative to demand — Rolex produces it as a distinct SKU rather than a variant — and the green-and-black color combination carries strong aesthetic appeal across both watch enthusiasts and a broader luxury audience. The five-link Jubilee bracelet, paired here rather than the Oyster, adds a dressy suppleness that suits off-pitch wear particularly well.

Ibrahimovic's watch sensibility has always leaned toward bold, recognizable references rather than esoteric complications. The 'Sprite' GMT fits that profile precisely: it is immediately legible as a serious piece to any observer with even passing watch knowledge, without requiring explanation.

At retail the 126720VTNR carries a list price of approximately $11,200, a figure that bears little relationship to actual acquisition costs. On the secondary market the reference trades in the $35,000 range — roughly three times retail — reflecting sustained demand that authorized dealers have not been able to satisfy since launch.