With some of the most eyewatering pay checks around, it’s no wonder that footballers are well know for their impressive watch collections – and the last week or so has certainly seen some heavy hitters. The highlights? Messi was spotted cheering on Inter Milan in a super-rare ‘Barbie’ Rolex, while Vini Jr. wore his dramatic Jacob & Co. Opera Godfather and Marcus Rashford donned his meteorite-dialled Rolex Day-Date during pre-season in South Korea.
Elsewhere away from the pitch, film sets also provided standing ovation-worthy watch moments, including Meryl Streep reprising her role as the notorious Miranda Priestly in the upcoming ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ sequel wearing an ineffably chic Cartier Tank Française.
10 of the best celebrity watches this week
Lionel Messi
While cheering on Inter Miami against FC Cincinnati, Lionel Messi was seen wearing a rare, off-catalog Rolex Daytona that matches his team’s pink kit. Nicknamed ‘The Barbie’, the watch features an 18K yellow gold case with a pink sapphire-set bezel and is valued at around $930,000. Previously spotted on Mark Wahlberg, this ultra-limited edition is believed to be one of fewer than ten produced, exclusively offered to Rolex’s most elite collectors.
Mark Wahlberg
Talking of Marky Mark, the actor’s Instagram has become well known as prime horological viewing, and this week we caught a glimpse of the Land-Dweller 40 in Oystersteel and white gold. Released at Watches and Wonders 2025, the model has become one of the most lauded timepieces of the year – we predict more than one nomination for it will appear in the WatchPro Awards shortlist…
Ed Sheeran
Avid collector Ed Sheeran never fails to impress with his watch wardrobe, and the singer recently took to the stage on tour in Stuttgart wearing the Vanguart Orb in titanium – an avant-garde piece of design that looks to the future of Swiss watchmaking, with a distinct orbital tourbillon suspended beneath a sculptural bridge.
Drake
While on his European tour, rapper Drake added an ultra-rare Rolex Daytona to his repertoire. Crafted in 18K Everose gold, this off-catalog ‘Giraffe’ edition (Ref. 126555TBR) features 36 baguette-cut diamonds set around the bezel and hour markers, with additional diamonds on the lugs and crown guards. It’s paired with a sleek Oysterflex bracelet, making it one of the wildest (get it?) Daytona configurations ever seen.
Meryl Streep
Unless you’ve been living under an (unfashionable) rock, filming for ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ sequel has taken over the streets of New York, as the original cast, including Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, reunite to work out what really is ground-breaking for Spring. Perhaps a vintage watch editorial could be on the cards, with Streep’s character Miranda Priestly’s spotted wearing a yellow gold Cartier Tank Française on set. ‘That is all.’
Brad Pitt
Elsewhere across the states, Brad Pitt was also pictured on the set of ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’ – David Fincher’s upcoming sequel to ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’. Departing from IWC and its F1 movie affiliations, the actor donned his Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222. Pitt is known to be a big fan of the watch, owning at least three versions – the modern gold iteration, the vintage steel model, and the brand-new 222 in steel – and is often spotted wearing them publicly, including at Wimbledon earlier this year.
Isaac Ordonez
American actor Isaac Ordonez celebrated (though his suitably moody look might suggest otherwise) his role as Pugsley Addams at the premier of Netflix series ‘Wednesday’ wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds. In fittingly gothic fashion, the model features a black dial which revives the colored faces first created by the maison in 1931.
Marcus Rashford
During pre-season in South Korea, Barcelona footballer Marcus Rashford was seen sporting a Rolex Day-Date in 18K white gold (ref. 228239). The factory-set timepiece features a unique meteorite dial and 10 baguette-cut diamond hour markers, blending elegance with rarity for quite the snip at the modest price of around $56,800.
Vini Jr.
At a street football event in LA attended by the likes of Travis Scott, Real Madrid star Vini Jr. was seen wearing the striking black DLC Jacob & Co. Opera Godfather watch. This limited-edition timepiece (one of just 88) features barrels factory pavé-set with 666 brilliant-cut white diamonds. By turning the violin-shaped crank on the case, the watch plays the iconic ‘Godfather’ movie theme tune via its built-in music box – a touch of drama that rivals that on the pitch.
David Beckham
Celebrating the birthday of his daughter Harper 7, David Beckham was captured by wife Victoria wearing a Rolex Day-Date 36 ‘Puzzle’. Spotlighting champlevé enamelling in playful bright hues, the arc-shaped aperture at 12 o’clock displays the inspirational words, ‘Happy’, ‘Eternity’, ‘Gratitude’, ‘Peace’, ‘Faith’, ‘Love’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Happy’ – the latter of which would be an apt description of how we’d feel if we could afford it (originally retailing at $61,500, it now has a market value of around $267,000).