Professional soccer players are known for their opulent lifestyles – fast cars, tattoos, designer clothing, and expensive watches. Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen an impressive selection of timepieces on the wrists of the sport’s superstars. Some go on to become avid watch collectors, others become the face of a brand, like Frenchman Kylian Mbappé.
When selecting our top soccer watches, we concentrated on great overall sports watches rather than the ultra-rare limited editions that some world-class players wear. We also decided against any “gimmicky” soccer watches that feature a 90-minute chronograph. No, we’ve gone for modern sports watches from popular brands that fit several different budgets, including those that pro players or their fans might wear. Let’s see what made our top ten.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
The Rolex Daytona is one of the most popular luxury watches and a standard in many soccer players’ collections. Choosing the right model from the current Daytona line can be tough. Do you go for one of the flashier pieces, such as a solid rose gold version with a dial featuring diamond hour markers and a diamond-set bezel? Some players would. We’d personally opt for something less over the top, like the full white gold version with a silver dial or the full yellow gold version with a black dial. Both Daytonas ooze luxury without being too flashy.
Patek Philippe Nautilus
Another favorite among soccer players is the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Again, picking just one Nautilus from the available versions is tough, because all of them are popular with the stars. One great option is the Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph ref. 5990, which is available in rose gold and stainless steel, but we ultimately picked the Patek Philippe Nautilus “Jumbo” ref. 5811 in white gold. It’s the latest generation of the original Nautilus that Gérald Genta designed in the 1970s. The white gold “Jumbo” is the only version of that first model that is still available, making it a popular pick.
Hublot Big Bang Unico
The name Hublot is synonymous with soccer. The brand is a partner of FIFA and UEFA and the official timekeeper of the World Championships and European Championships. The association with soccer does not end there. One of the faces of Hublot is soccer player Kylian Mbappé. The French superstar has been associated with the brand since 2018, and has worn various Hublot models in that time. The watch we picked is the Hublot Big Bang Unico, which is available in various sizes, colors, and materials. The King Gold versions are the ones you will most likely see on players’ wrists. But Big Bang Unico watches are a little less expensive, and the colorful Big Bang Unico Ceramic models are equally striking.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut
Another Patek Philippe that is incredibly popular among soccer players is the Aquanaut. Like the Nautilus, the Aquanaut comes in a variety of different versions, but there is one that is particularly among sportsmen, and that is the Aquanaut Chronograph ref. 5968. This stylish watch is available in stainless steel, white gold, and rose gold. Soccer stars tend to opt for the gold versions, but we’ve picked the stainless-steel version for its versatility. Wear it on a black rubber strap for an understated statement, or switch to the orange rubber strap for a colorful and striking timepiece that will have people turning their heads.
Rolex Day-Date
A second Rolex on this list is likewise inevitable. We chose the brand’s flagship model and the epitome of traditional luxury: the Rolex Day-Date. The watch is only available in precious metals and comes with the famous President bracelet. Soccer players love to buy things that are out of the ordinary, including exclusive special editions of the Day-Date. Our pick, and the choice of many players, is the Day-Date “Puzzle” that came out in 2023. An enamel dial with puzzle pieces paired with emotions instead of day indications and emojis instead of date numerals makes this a stunning and intriguing timepiece that fans and players love.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph
Audemars Piguet is a favorite among the world’s most famous athletes. In the past, the brand actively marketed in world of sports by choosing several high-profile sports stars as their brand ambassadors. Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Lionel Messi have all been the face of Audemars Piguet at various points. One of their most distinctive watches, loved by many soccer players, is the Royal Oak Chronograph. If you’ve already decided to purchase this exceptional thing of beauty and luxury, why not go all out? The 18-karat yellow-gold version featuring a smoked yellow-gold-toned dial is the way to go.
Tudor Black Bay Chronograph
Over the last five years, Tudor has become incredibly popular. This “little sister” of luxury powerhouse Rolex has built a super beloved collection with its vintage-inspired Black Bay line. There are plenty of great models to choose from in the Black Bay, Black Bay Pro, and Black Bay Fifty-Eight. While the Black Bay Chronograph may not be the series’ most popular model, it is just the thing for any soccer fan. Whether you pick the rare pink dial version that the brand created to celebrate its partnership with David Beckham and Inter Miami, or one of the regular versions, you can’t go wrong with this stylish chronograph.
Richard Mille RM 011
Buying a Richard Mille watch calls for a salary like that of a professional soccer player. The brand is famous for creating very expensive and very lightweight watches that can actually be worn while playing sports. Tennis star Rafael Nadal, Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, and professional golfer Bubba Watson are all known to wear their Richard Milles in action. For this list, we’ve chosen the RM 011 – perhaps the purest example of a Richard Mille timepiece, from its case down to the last screw. It’s a super lightweight titanium flyback chronograph with a big date display and an unmistakable design. This unique watch requires deep pockets and plenty of confidence.
Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph
The Breitling Chronomat has long been known to anyone looking for a bold luxury watch from a well-known brand. The current Chronomat B01 42 is a remarkable watch: It takes its unique style from the 1980s Chronomat with its famous bezel rider tabs and the characteristic Rouleaux bracelet with bullet-style links. The chronograph can be found on the wrist of world-famous soccer player Erling Haaland. He became the face of Breitling in 2022, and has been wearing the watch ever since. It’s a great pick for soccer players and fans looking for a watch from a brand with an amazing history and great style.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas
Our last pick is less popular among soccer players than the Patek Philippe Nautilus or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, but the Vacheron Constantin Overseas line is for true watch fans who want something different yet equally striking. Belgian superstar Kevin de Bruyne has been known to wear an Overseas Tourbillon, and before Haaland joined Breitling, he was often seen wearing a beautiful pink-gold version of the standard Overseas with a blue dial. For our list, we picked the stunning pink-gold version with a chic green dial that was introduced earlier this year. It looks super stylish and will stand out in any locker room.
There you have it. Those were our top-ten watches for soccer superstars and their fans. Now it’s time for the referees to decide which one is the ultimate soccer watch.