Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Paolo Maldini spotted wearing Rolex

Paolo Maldini, widely regarded as the greatest defender in football history and former Technical and Sports Director of AC Milan, was photographed alongside Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović — a pairing that itself represents a combined century of elite football — with a stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN secured to his wrist. The black-dial configuration, paired with its matching black Cerachrom bezel, gives this particular reference a purposeful, almost monolithic presence that suits Maldini's understated personal style.

Introduced at Baselworld 2016, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN marked a decisive technological step for the lineage. For the first time, Rolex fitted the Daytona with a bezel crafted in Cerachrom, the brand's proprietary high-tech ceramic compound. The material is virtually scratchproof, chemically inert, and resistant to UV-induced fading — a meaningful upgrade over the earlier aluminium anodised bezels of the ref. 116520. Powering the watch is the in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch that delivers smooth, instantaneous chronograph engagement. It operates at 28,800 vph and offers a 72-hour power reserve, housed in a 40mm Oyster case with Rolex's Triplock crown system ensuring 100 metres of water resistance.

Among collectors, the 116500LN occupies a peculiar and fascinating position. At launch, waiting lists at authorised dealers stretched from months into years almost immediately, and the grey market premium ballooned to multiples of retail price. The black-dial version consistently commands a slight premium over its white-dial sibling, driven by aesthetics and a perception of greater visual drama. It is, in short, arguably the most recognisable unobtanium in modern watchmaking.

Maldini's watch choices have always reflected a quiet confidence. He gravitates toward classics with substance — watches that carry meaning beyond their market value. The Daytona ref. 116500LN, with its motor-racing heritage tracing back to the early 1960s and its connection to the Daytona International Speedway, is precisely that kind of object.

At retail, the stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN lists at approximately $14,550 USD. On the secondary market, however, demand far outstrips authorised dealer supply, and grey-market prices have stabilised in the $28,000–$32,000 range depending on condition and documentation.