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Footballer Lionel Messi spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Lionel Messi was recently photographed wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus Flyback Chronograph in 18K rose gold, reference 5980R, secured to his wrist on a vivid green rubber strap. The sighting adds another serious horological chapter to Messi's well-documented affinity for Patek Philippe, a relationship that stretches back years and has consistently trended toward complicated, high-value references rather than entry-level pieces.

The 5980R sits at the technical apex of the Nautilus sports line. Patek introduced the reference in 2006 as the first Nautilus to house a flyback chronograph, and the rose gold variant remains among the most sought-after executions. The 40.5mm case — recognisable by its horizontally embossed dial and octagonal bezel with rounded lugs — houses caliber CH 28-520 C, a manufacture movement running at 28,800 vph with a 45-to-55 hour power reserve. The flyback function, controlled by the lower pusher at 4 o'clock, allows the chronograph to be reset and restarted instantaneously without three separate operations — a legitimate pilot's complication executed here in Patek's characteristically refined manner. The column-wheel and horizontal clutch ensure silky engagement and long-term reliability.

Among collectors, the 5980R occupies rarefied territory. Rose gold Nautilus chronographs are produced in far smaller quantities than their stainless steel counterparts, and the combination of precious metal, integrated bracelet and a genuinely useful complication makes this reference consistently difficult to source through official channels. Its place in the secondary market reflects that scarcity without apology.

Messi's choice of the green rubber strap is worth noting. Patek offers rubber straps as a factory option across the Nautilus sports range, and the colour choice here reads as deliberate — green carries obvious personal resonance for the Argentina captain, who lifted the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Off the pitch, Messi has been photographed in Patek Philippes across multiple complications; this 5980R sits comfortably among his most technically impressive wrist choices.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980R carries a list price of approximately $67,900, but the grey market tells a different story entirely. Current secondary-market values hover around $150,000 — more than double retail — underscoring the sustained demand for rose gold Nautilus chronographs and the near-impossibility of acquiring one at boutique price.