With the 2025/2026 Premier League season already a thing of the past, it’s time to start looking forward to the FIFA World Cup, which starts in less than three weeks. The world’s biggest sporting event will take over the USA, Canada and Mexico with more than a billion people set to tune in from around the globe. Stacked with legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as well as contemporary superstars like Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, the World Cup has all the makings of a classic, especially with fans struggling to pick a firm favourite.
Of course, football is always more than football. Especially where the World Cup is concerned. It’s about the music. It’s about the fashion. It’s about the fans. And, of course, where Something About Rocks are concerned, it’s about the watches. Footballers love a good watch. These days, they’re as much a part of their attire as shin pads. Even a cursory glance at the weekend’s football sees every manager wearing an exquisite timepiece on the touchline and as soon as the players are out of their kit, they get that Rolex or Patek or Hublot on.
In the spirit of the forthcoming World Cup, below, we have put together some of the most iconic football related watches of all time.
David Beckham – Rolex Yacht-Master
Perhaps the most famous watch in England in 1998. When announcing his engagement to the woman then known as Victoria Adams, David Beckham and his future wife wore matching Rolex Yacht-Masters for the accompanying photoshoot. Because of the high profile nature of their relationship, the pictures were everywhere and the couple, long before they became brands themselves, inspired thousands of others to get in early on the Yacht-Master hype as back then, it was a new addition to Rolex’s vaunted arsenal. A shame he got sent off in the World Cup a few months later.
Pele – Rolex Day-Date
Despite having a brand partnership with Hublot, the three time World Cup winner is closely associated with the Rolex Day-Date, having been seen wearing one over several decades. Across most public appearances, both when he was still a player and later on with his extensive work as an ambassador of football, Pele usually had an immaculate Day-Date on his wrist. The great Brazilian never spoke publicly about why he was such a fan of the watch but it’s rare to see any famous figure so committed to one piece for so long.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon CR7 Edition
As extravagant off the field as he is on it, Cristiano Ronaldo was a longtime fan of Jacob & Co. and building on his 20-year friendship with the company and its eponymous founder Jacob Arabo, the Manchester United legend decided to collaborate on a piece of his own. Taking inspiration from the Bugatti supercars Ronaldo is also a fan of, this one-of-a-kind piece sits in the striker’s collection and the striker’s collection only. It purportedly cost him in the seven figures.
Diego Maradona – Rolex Daytona
Nobody wore watches like Diego Maradona. Quite literally, nobody. The Argentine football great and scourge of the English would wear a watch on both wrists. Yes, really. One watch would give him the local time and the other would be set to Argentinian time so that he didn’t have to figure out the difference. In the stands and during his later public appearances, he would often be seen wearing at least one stainless steel Rolex Daytona. He was known to be a devoted fan of the brand as when Italian authorities raided his property on tax avoidance charges, they seized two Rolexes.
Kylian Mbappé – Hublot Big Bang Unico “King Gold”
The current face of football? Probably. The current face of Hublot? Absolutely. Hublot love snapping up football superstars for their brand and the current crown jewel is France and Real Madrid striker, Kylian Mbappé. As such, the record breaking superstar has been seen wearing some of the brand’s biggest and most daring designs, most notably the Big Bang Unico “King Gold”. Mbappé has also just released his own collaboration with Hublot ahead of the World Cup.
Pep Guardiola – Richard Mille RM 61-01
He may have just ended his decade long reign at Manchester City, a managerial stint that bagged him a remarkable six Premier League trophies as well as a Champions League, but that will just give Pep more time to enjoy his extraordinary watch collection. Perhaps the most staggering piece he owns is this Richard Mille RM 61-01, which he has been seen wearing pitchside. Only 150 of them were ever made and the price tag of more than £1 million is staggering even for arguably the greatest football manager of them all. Since he was last spotted wearing this a couple of seasons ago, the value has probably increased enormously after Richard Mille discontinued the range.
Harry Kane – Patek Philippe Platinum Grand Complication
The man on whom the joys of a nation rest, Harry Kane as a player is strong, classical and endlessly dependable. The same could be said about his taste in watches with the former Tottenaham star a devotee of Patek Philippe. There are no shortage of great Pateks to pick out from the England striker’s collection but the one we’ve gone for here is the Platinum Grand Complication which he wore when he was unveiled by Bayern Munich, representing one of the biggest and most daring transfers involving an English player in recent years. It may have cost Kane around £750,000 but it’s one of the Swiss giant’s best pieces and fits the unassuming superstar well.
Neymar Jr – Patek Philippe Nautilus
One of the biggest shocks in the squad announcements that have come over the last few days is the inclusion of Neymar in the Brazilian team. The 34-year-old forward is the country’s all-time top goal scorer and one of the game’s best players of the last 15 years but has been injury ravaged for much of the last three years where he has played in Saudi Arabia before returning to his first club, Santos. So, Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include him among his 26-strong squad was a great surprise and the emotional moment was captured on video. In the clip, Neymar can be seen wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus, which despite its hefty 40.5mm size, is a relatively understated piece. But it’s one that is going to be seen a lot, especially if Neymar can make an impact at the tournament.
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