The GOAT’s watch is a piece of wrist candy with a white gold case and a stunning midnight blue dial.

These days, Patek is on Lionel Messi.

Despite having a sizable, multi-brand collection, the Argentine soccer icon has recently been favoring the Genevan watch made by his family. He attended the Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris in February wearing a platinum Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5270P. At the World Cup many months prior, he wore a white-gold Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G. He is currently donning an Aquanaut Chronograph Ref. 5968G made of white gold.

Prior to his Leagues Cup game on Wednesday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Messi wore the Patek. When the forward scored twice to defeat Orlando City 3-1 in the first edition, Inter Miami moved to the round of 16. He again showed the elegance and accuracy of a chronograph.

A white-gold Aquanaut Chronograph (Ref. 5968G) was made available by Patek in 2021. The checkerboard dial on the $75,700 model is either khaki or midnight blue. Messi selected a face that was midnight blue with a black rim.

The white-gold case, which has a satin finish and is only little larger than 42 mm, protects the watch’s delicate internal mechanisms. It can withstand water up to 394 feet (120 meters). The bezel’s rounded octagonal shape matches the date display at 3 o’clock and the 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock. The self-winding mechanical movement (caliber CH 28-520 C) has a flyback mechanism that converts the central chronograph hand into a constant seconds hand.

 

Blue composite strap matches the dial. The inventive fold-over clasp from the watchmaker boasts four separate catches for durability and robustness.

Messi wears Rolex and Audemars Piguet in addition to Patek. The footballer wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master and a limited-edition AP Royal Oak when he signed his $80 million contract with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. He will concentrate on Patek in 2023.