Football’s biggest stars are also some of the world’s most serious watch collectors, and the World Cup puts that on full display. Away from the pitch, at arrivals, press conferences, and in the stands, their timepieces do plenty of talking. As a result, this year’s tournament has delivered a run of watches as remarkable as the football.
Below are the standout watches spotted at the 2026 World Cup, several from brands available pre-owned at Precision Watches.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Patek Philippe Nautilus Haute Joaillerie
Cristiano Ronaldo has never been one for understatement, and his World Cup wristwear proved the point. Before Portugal’s match against DR Congo, the forward arrived wearing a fully diamond-set Patek Philippe Nautilus Haute Joaillerie, reference 5811/1460G.
The watch takes the already iconic Nautilus and transforms it into a jewelry piece. Crafted in white gold, it is set with 195 baguette-cut diamonds and more than 1,200 brilliant-cut stones across the case, bezel, bracelet, and dial, totaling close to 20 carats. Beneath the dazzle sits Patek’s reliable automatic movement. As a result, with a retail price around $722,000, it was one of the most valuable watches spotted at the entire tournament.
Kylian Mbappé’s Hublot Big Bang Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary
French star Kylian Mbappé, a long-time Hublot ambassador, wore one of the rarest watches of the tournament. His choice was the Hublot Big Bang Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary in titanium grey, limited to just 25 pieces worldwide.
The watch was created to mark the 75th anniversary of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the family-owned UAE retailer behind Dubai Watch Week. Its 43mm titanium case carries rose gold accents and Eastern Arabic numerals as a tribute to the region’s heritage. Inside beats Hublot’s in-house HUB1280 Unico flyback chronograph, good for a 72-hour power reserve, with a gold rotor engraved with the Seddiqi anniversary logo. As a result, with only 25 examples made, it was among the most exclusive pieces seen at the World Cup. For more on the brand, see our pre-owned Hublot watches.
Erling Haaland’s Breitling Chronomat “Erling Haaland”
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland joined an exclusive club of players wearing a watch bearing their own name. He arrived in the Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Erling Haaland edition, the first watch he helped design as a Breitling ambassador.
The standout feature is the dial, cut from a 4.5-billion-year-old Muonionalusta meteorite, giving each example a unique pattern. Presented in a 40mm stainless steel case with a platinum bezel, it also includes personal touches tied to Haaland, with his signature goal celebration engraved on the caseback. As a result, it stands out as one of the more personal and distinctive watches at the tournament, and at a relative value compared to the six-figure pieces elsewhere on this list. For more, see our pre-owned Breitling watches.
Jay-Z’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar
Music mogul and noted collector Jay-Z brought one of the rarest Audemars Piguet references in existence to the game between Ivory Coast and Ecuador. His watch was the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, reference 25829TP, released in 1997.
What makes it so special is the material: a rare combination of tantalum and platinum, giving it a distinctive two-tone finish that AP has rarely used. The open-worked dial displays the day, date, month, leap-year cycle, and moon phase. With just 16 examples ever made, it is a genuine collector’s grail. As a result, examples have sold for well over $250,000 at auction. For more, see our pre-owned Audemars Piguet watches.
Ollie Watkins’ Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked
England forward Ollie Watkins may have spent much of the tournament as Harry Kane’s backup, but he made his mark off the pitch. He arrived with the England team wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked, reference 15407ST.
The watch takes the classic Royal Oak and fully skeletonizes the dial, revealing AP’s patented double-balance-wheel system inside. Housed in a 41mm stainless steel case, it blends the instantly recognizable Royal Oak design with genuine technical complexity. As a result, it was one of the most horologically interesting watches spotted in the stands.
Kevin De Bruyne’s Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon
Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne brought serious haute horlogerie to the tournament with the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton. It is one of the most technically impressive watches spotted at the World Cup.
The watch combines a fully openworked movement with an integrated titanium bracelet and a tourbillon complication, all from one of watchmaking’s most prestigious names. As a result, it stood out as a connoisseur’s choice among the many sports watches on display.
Ibrahima Konaté’s Patek Philippe Nautilus Moon Phases
French defender Ibrahima Konaté arrived wearing one of the most respected modern sports watches ever made: the Patek Philippe Nautilus Moon Phases, reference 5712/1A. Its asymmetrical dial layout, moon-phase complication, and stainless steel construction have made the 5712 a long-standing collector favorite. As a result, it remains one of the most sought-after Nautilus references in the world.
Anthony Gordon’s Patek Philippe Grand Complication
England winger Anthony Gordon made his biggest style statement arriving in New Jersey for England’s final group game. On his wrist was a Patek Philippe Grand Complication Chronograph Perpetual on a leather strap.
The watch features roughly 80 sapphires set around the bezel, marking it as a true high-complication heavyweight. As a result, with a price well beyond £400,000, it was one of the most valuable and complicated watches spotted at the entire tournament. For more, see our pre-owned Patek Philippe watches.
The 2026 World Cup: A Watch Lover’s Tournament
As always with football’s biggest stars, the 2026 World Cup delivered an extraordinary run of watches. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s diamond-covered Patek Philippe Nautilus to Erling Haaland’s meteorite-dial Breitling and Jay-Z’s ultra-rare Audemars Piguet, the tournament proved as compelling off the pitch as on it. With the knockout stages still to come, there may be more remarkable wristwear yet.
Many of the brands spotted at the World Cup are available pre-owned at Precision Watches, a family-owned retailer near Philadelphia in Lower Gwynedd, PA. Whether you are drawn to an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, a Patek Philippe Nautilus, or another luxury sports watch, our team can help you buy, sell, or trade. Reach out as a trusted luxury watch dealer near Philadelphia.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2026 World Cup Watches
What watch did Cristiano Ronaldo wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo wore a diamond-set Patek Philippe Nautilus Haute Joaillerie (Ref. 5811/1460G) at the 2026 World Cup. Set with nearly 20 carats of diamonds across the white gold case, bezel, bracelet, and dial, it retails for around $722,000.
What watch did Kylian Mbappé wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Kylian Mbappé wore the Hublot Big Bang Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary in titanium grey, a 43mm limited edition of just 25 pieces with an in-house HUB1280 Unico flyback chronograph and a 72-hour power reserve.
What watch did Erling Haaland wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Erling Haaland wore the Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Erling Haaland edition, the first watch he helped design. It features a 40mm steel case with a platinum bezel and a dial cut from a 4.5-billion-year-old Muonionalusta meteorite.
Which footballers wore the most expensive watches at the 2026 World Cup?
Among the most valuable watches spotted were Cristiano Ronaldo’s Patek Philippe Nautilus Haute Joaillerie (around $722,000), Anthony Gordon’s Patek Philippe Grand Complication (over £400,000), and Jay-Z’s ultra-rare Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (over $250,000).
