Feature: World Cup Stars And What Their Watches Say About Them
As the Qatar World Cup prepares to move into the knock-out stages, where only the genuine contenders remain, we thought we’d take a look at some of the tournament’s star players and what their watches say about them.
From Oliver Giroud’s Hublot to Thiago Silva’s Richard Mille, these watches reveal much about their wearer’s psyche. Will any of these be holding the trophy aloft on December 8th after the final whistle has blown?
Antonio Rudiger, Germany
Not everyone can get away with wearing a rose-gold 41mm AP Royal Oak, but Germany’s dependable centre-back Antonio Rudiger does it with aplomb. His choice of an iconic sport-luxe classic indicates a man with a refined taste. And let’s be honest, the words ‘refined taste’ and ‘footballer’ are found together about as often as ‘malnourished’ and ‘sumo wrestler’.
A time-only gold Royal Oak with black dial suggests a man devoid of any airs or graces, yet one who’s far from embarrassed about his wealth—the 29-year-old’s weekly salary at Real Madrid is estimated to be around £150k! A born leader on the field and a committed anti-racism campaigner off it, Rudiger is a conscientious guy—one of the game’s true aristocrats—and this uber-classy timepiece reflects it.
Thiago Silva, Brazil
Thiago Silva isn’t the captain of the Brazilian squad for nothing. With years of experience under his belt, he’s one of the more senior players in his team at 38 years old, making him an obvious leader—we just hope his watch collection is equally deserving of respect.
First up is Silva’s Richard Mille RM 027 Tourbillon ‘Rafael Nadal’ which he was spotted wearing at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Richard Mille is a brand that has collaborated with many sport stars besides Nadal, including Yohan Blake and Bubba Watson, so this is a fitting watch for another sporting legend. Also in Silva’s line-up is a Hublot Big Bang and an AP Royal Oak. Judging from this selection of iconic timepieces it’s clear he’s a man who does his research and is able to make smart, clear-cut decisions—just like he does on the pitch.
César Azpilicueta, Spain
A staple in the Premier League, playing for Chelsea for 10 years, Azpilicueta has captained The Blues to three trophies in recent years. As well as championing Chelsea and his country, Spain, he is an investor of the English non-league team Hashtag United FC—an intriguing club founded in 2016 by the YouTuber Spencer FC.
Watch-wise, he has opted for a stunning Roger Dubuis. The model in question is the Excalibur Skeleton Automatic in a pink gold and ceramic case. The self-professed “future of Hyper Horology”, Roger Dubuis has certainly showcased what its talented watchmakers can do with this large, visually arresting piece. Judging from this watch alone, we’d say that Azpilicueta isn’t afraid to take risks, knows what he wants and goes for it!
Luis Suarez, Uruguay
Despite the lack of a major international trophy, 35-year-old Suarez has achieved much in the game and has little left to prove. Perhaps he feels the same way about watches as he’s been pictured sporting an IWC Big Pilot’s model in stainless steel. It’s the polar opposite of what you’d expect from a footballer—a minimalist icon with heritage aplenty.
That said, there’s also the Hublot Classic Fusion in rose gold he’s been spotted wearing. Perhaps this is the real key to understanding the enigma that is Suarez, a supremely gifted player who once received the longest ban in World Cup history for biting an opponent on the shoulder. He’s opted for a brand synonymous with rich footballers, yet chosen a model that’s relatively understated.
It suggests a man who’s easily influenced by others, yet still in touch—just about!—with his working-class roots.
Paulo Dybala, Argentina
One of Rolex’s gaudiest timepieces to date, the Rolex Daytona 116595 RBOW is a real ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ watch. Thankfully, Argentinian striker Paulo Dybala seems to be firmly in the ‘love it’ camp. Coming in 18k Everose gold, this Daytona flaunts a stunning rainbow graduation bezel consisting of 36 baguette-cut sapphires, as well as 11 sapphire hour markers and diamond-set lugs. Considering Dybala’s nickname is ‘La Joya’, aka ‘The Jewel’, we think this is a fitting piece for this prolific goal-scorer.
Like his style of play, Dybala’s watch collection is versatile. He also owns a Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph—reference 5980/1R-001—in 18k rose gold. If we were to judge Dybala by his watches, we’d say he’s a man who likes to make a statement and is attuned to the finer things in life.
Oliver Giroud, France
Versatility seems to be one of the top skills in Giroud’s locker and that’s not only apparent on the pitch. He has even shown off his acting capabilities by starring in the French-dubbed version of Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse as the voice of the Green Goblin. This may explain why he often opts for monochrome watches—they look good with everything, right?
In his collection Giroud boasts a Hublot Big Bang—Hublot is the official timekeeper of this year’s tournament, after all—as well as a Patek Philippe Aquanaut. The latter even featured in his interview with GQ Italia titled ‘10 Things Olivier Giroud Can’t Live Without’, in which he revealed he enjoys collecting watches and that he feels ‘lost’ if he isn’t wearing one. We know the feeling, Olivier.
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