Rubber B crafts custom rubber watch bands for timepieces from a variety of leading global watchmakers, including Rolex, Tudor, Panerai, and several others. The complete product catalog features straps in an array of colors, textures, and styles, each made from 100% vulcanized rubber. Today’s blog post focuses on one of the most recognizable soccer players in the world – Lionel Messi.
Messi is currently the leading goal scorer of all time in La Liga (the primary division of professional Spanish soccer) with 474 goals, has scored the most hat tricks among any player in the league with 36, and also has the most assists with 192, among other records. It would not be unreasonable, in some respects, to compare him to Wayne Gretzky or Tom Brady in terms of his impact on his respective sport.
However, in addition to being a world-renowned soccer player, Messi is also a noted watch collector who has accumulated an interesting and elegant collection of luxury timepieces. We will now spend a few moments taking a closer look at the career and watch collection of this noted soccer legend.
Who is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi was born on June 24th, 1987 in Rosario, Sante Fe, Argentina to Jorge Messi, a steel factory manager, and Celia, who worked in a magnet manufacturing workshop. He is of Italian and Spanish ancestry and is the third of four children. He grew up in a tight-knit family and quickly fell in love with soccer as a child. He has two cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, who are also professional soccer players.
As a child, he was identified locally as something of a soccer prodigy, but when he was ten years old, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Due to Argentina’s economic collapse and other financial factors, he was only able to receive two years’ worth of treatment for the condition.
Early Success As a Young Player
Messi’s family had relatives in Catalonia, Spain, and were able to secure a tryout with the youth league in Barcelona in September of 2000. Charly Rexach, the team’s director, immediately wanted to sign young Messi, but the board of directors was hesitant to do so. This was due to the fact that they did not normally make these kinds of offers to foreign players, especially when they were that young.
However, on December 14th, with an ultimatum hanging over the club’s head, Rexach drew up a contract for the family to sign on a napkin. Messi would eventually relocate to Spain after accepting the offer and had a very successful youth soccer career, becoming part of a children’s team that would later go on to be dubbed the “Baby Dream Team” of Spanish youth soccer.
Messi Becomes a Soccer Superstar
On June 24th, 2005, his 18th birthday, Lionel Messi became officially joined the senior soccer team as an official player and signed his first adult contract. The contract would keep him in Barcelona until at least 2010, and his buyout clause was listed at 150 million pounds.
The then 19-year old Messi would go on to establish himself as one of the best soccer players in the world during the team’s 2006-2007 season. While the team itself was struggling, Messi continued to regularly put on fantastic performances week after week, resulting in him arguably becoming the most popular soccer player in all of Spain.
By 2010, Messi would go on to win his fifth La Liga title and his third Champions League, permanently cementing him as not just one of the best living soccer players in the world, but one of the best in the sport’s history, alongside Pele and Diego Maradona.
Messi would spend the rest of his playing career with Barcelona until the summer of 2021. FC Barcelona would find themselves dealing with significant financial difficulties at the time, and unfortunately, could not pay Messi anywhere near what he was worth.
As a result, in August of 2021, he would join FC Paris Saint-Germain. His current deal keeps him with the team until June of 2023, with an option for an extra year if necessary. While Messi is far from retiring at this point, it will be fascinating to see how the next few years of his career unfold, and whether he is able to return to his beloved FC Barcelona in the near future.
Messi’s Transition to Inter Miami
In 2023, Messi made a significant move to Inter Miami, bringing his illustrious career to Major League Soccer (MLS). While he continues to perform at a high level, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in the current season, he acknowledges the physical challenges of aging. Messi has stated his intention to continue playing as long as he feels he can contribute meaningfully to his team.
Will Messi Play in the 2026 World Cup?
As Messi turns 37, speculation about his retirement grows. Despite this, he has not ruled out the possibility of playing in the 2026 World Cup. “I don’t think about that yet. The moment I feel that I am not going to help my team, I will retire,” Messi said in March 2024. His commitment to the sport remains strong, even as he balances soccer with family life and new business ventures.
What Kind of Watches are in Lionel Messi’s Watch Collection?
Messi’s watch collection is diverse, reflecting his appreciation for individual timepieces rather than specific brands. His collection includes:
- Louis Vuitton Tambour: Custom-made with a 40-mm gold casing and integrated bracelet.
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph: A rare edition costing approximately $125,000.
- Hublot Bat Bang Tourbillon: Valued at $150,000 with only 50 pieces available.
- Rolex Submariner Date: 116659 SABR: Featuring 18k white gold and multiple diamonds, valued at $160,000.
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Spider-Man: Worth $215,000 with a highly sophisticated mechanism.
- Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph 5980/1R: Made of 18k Rose Gold, valued up to $420,000.
- Jacob & Co. Epic X Chrono Messi Full Baguette: The most premium piece in his collection, costing $600,000.
Are You in Need of a Custom Rubber Watch Band For Your Luxury Timepiece? Visit Rubber B Today
No fillers or additives are used in Rubber B’s watch straps, and each strap is non-toxic and non-allergenic, as well as being FDA and BVGG compliant. Rubber B also offers both domestic and international shipping to its clients based on their current location.
We regularly update our product catalog with new straps for a variety of different watches, so be sure to stay up to date on what we’re working hard to bring you next. For more information about our custom rubber watch straps, pricing, or any other questions you may have, simply visit our website.
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