Footballer Lionel Messi spotted wearing a Rolex

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi was photographed wearing a white gold Rolex Day-Date 36 ref. 128236 with a striking turquoise dial—a timepiece that exemplifies the brand's recent embrace of bold colour variants in its most prestigious sports watch collection. The sighting underscores how football's elite continue to favour Rolex's dress sports chronometers at sport's biggest moments.

The Rolex Day-Date 36 ref. 128236 houses the calibre 3255, Rolex's latest in-house automatic movement featuring a Chronergy escapement and magnetic hairspring for enhanced precision and shock resistance. The 36 mm white gold case maintains the President's signature aesthetic while the turquoise dial—a departure from traditional champagne, black, and slate options—delivers striking visual presence on the wrist. The fluted bezel and matching Oyster bracelet with concealed Crownclasp ensure water resistance to 100 metres, befitting a watch equally at home in formal settings or casual environments.

Route introduced the turquoise dial variant for the Day-Date 36 as part of its colour innovation strategy, targeting collectors seeking alternatives to conservative precious-metal sports watches. The ref. 128236 replaced the earlier ref. 118206 in 2015, bringing the calibre 3255 movement and updated case finishing standards. This turquoise dial execution has become a collector favourite, appreciated for its unique presence and tonal depth under varying light conditions—particularly visible in daylight photography from World Cup venues.

Messi's choice reflects the Day-Date's enduring appeal among world-class athletes and executives. The President has long served as the dress sports watch for high-profile figures, and the turquoise variant adds contemporary flair without sacrificing the reference's formal credentials. The pairing of Messi's Argentina national team kit with a white gold President reinforces the watch's status as aspirational jewellery for achievement-focused individuals.

Retail pricing for the Rolex Day-Date 36 ref. 128236 ranges from $38,500 to $42,000 USD depending on dial variant. The turquoise iteration commands strong secondary-market demand, with pre-owned examples typically trading between $45,000 and $55,000 USD on grey markets. Authorized dealer waitlists for this reference remain substantial, making Messi's wrist a window into one of watchdom's most sought contemporary President variants.