Lionel Messi just wore a rare $135,000 Patek Philippe

World Cup superstar Lionel Messi was photographed wearing a rare Patek Philippe Aquanaut as he walked into Florida’s DRV PNK stadium ahead of his Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is the highest-paid athlete in the United States, sported the Swiss watchmaker’s Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A with a neon orange strap.

As watch fans are no doubt aware, at Watches & Wonders, the watchmaking industry’s largest and most luxurious trade fair, coloured strap have emerged as one of the industry’s biggest trends right now – with the likes of Gucci, Oris and Hermès dressing their timepieces in neon-pop shades in fabrics ranging from rubber to leather to crocodile.

Messi’s choice of wristwatch marks him out as a true connoisseur. The wristwatch was first introduced in 2018 as the debut chronograph of the Aquanaut collection. Housed in a 42.2 mm stainless steel case, the ticker is punctuated by an embossed black dial, complete with Arabic numerals and a chronograph display at 6 o’clock.

Meanwhile, beating within its structure is Patek’s automatic self-winding movement, providing an impressive 55-hour power reserve.

Like this? Go inside Lionel Messi’s outrageous watch collection