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Footballer Sofyan Amrabat spotted wearing Rolex

Sofyan Amrabat became one of the defining footballing stories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, anchoring a Moroccan midfield that defied expectations to reach the semi-finals — the first African nation ever to do so. Off the pitch, the Fiorentina and later Manchester United midfielder kept his wrist game equally sharp, stepping out with a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116500LN on his wrist, fitted with the striking black dial and matching black Cerachrom bezel.

The Rolex Daytona 116500LN debuted at Baselworld 2016 and immediately rewrote the rules of the modern luxury chronograph market. Its most significant upgrade was the transition from the outsourced Zenith El Primero base to Rolex's own Calibre 4130 — a column-wheel, vertical-clutch movement built entirely in-house. The Calibre 4130 offers a 72-hour power reserve, improved chronograph precision, and a dramatically simplified architecture with fewer components than its predecessor. The Oystersteel case measures 40mm, paired with an Oyster bracelet and Rolex's Oysterlock clasp. The Cerachrom bezel insert, machined from virtually scratch-proof ceramic, replaced the earlier aluminum bezel and lends the watch its contemporary, tool-watch authority.

Among collectors, the 116500LN with black dial occupies a near-mythological status. At launch, waiting lists at authorized dealers stretched into years, and the grey market responded with premiums that at peak reached three to four times the retail price. Even as supply has gradually improved, the reference remains one of the most liquid and recognizable Rolex sports references in the secondary market — a benchmark piece that holds value with unusual consistency.

Amrabat's choice reflects a pattern common among top-tier footballers who gravitate toward sports Rolex references that communicate understated authority rather than ostentatious luxury. The Daytona occupies that exact space — it is unambiguously prestigious without demanding attention.

At retail, the Rolex Daytona 116500LN in Oystersteel with black dial is listed at approximately $14,550 USD, though it remains effectively unobtainable at that price through official channels. On the grey market, examples in full set and unworn condition continue to trade comfortably in the $28,000–$34,000 range, reflecting the reference's enduring demand.