[imagesource: Needpix]

As the clock ticked past the hour mark on Saturday, with Argentina struggling to break down Mexico’s defence, Lionel Messi must have wondered if his (likely) final World Cup was going to end with a whimper.

Heading into the final match of the group stages, a loss would have knocked his side out of the tournament and even a draw would have left a lot to chance.

Those permutations are now out of the window because Messi did what he does best and created a moment of magic out of nothing.

From outside the box, he rifled a shot into the bottom corner and sparked wild scenes of celebration on the pitch and back in his home country.

This angle best sums up the precision:

THIS ANGLE OF MESSI’S GOAL 🤯🤯🤯

pic.twitter.com/sazSiupvwd

— Ziad is NOT in pain  🇦🇷 (@Ziad_EJ) November 27, 2022

While South African rugby fans are forced to suffer through the likes of Warren Brosnihan on the microphone, the big guns are rolled out for the World Cup:

Take a bow Peter Drury, Beautiful commentary on Lionel Messi’s goal for Argentina …
pic.twitter.com/GfKgYYLORw

— F R E D🇺🇸🇦🇷 (@AFCFrediNho) November 26, 2022

Drury certainly never misses a chance to wax lyrical.

Oh ja, we are supposed to talk about a watch, hey? This via Robb Report:

The Argentinian forward, along with rival footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, is known for having one of the most impressive collections in the game…

It makes perfect sense, then, that Messi would sport one of his stunning Patek Philippe timepieces at a press conference for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Ahead of his side’s tournament opener against Saudi Arabia, which they famously lost 2-1, Messi attended the press conference wearing an 18-karat white-gold Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G.

Lionel Messi prepares for his fifth #FIFAWorldCup with the white-gold Patek Philippe Nautilus pic.twitter.com/FGlz5YhS5O

— GQ Sports (@GQSports) November 22, 2022

This model retails for $145 480 (around R2,5 million) but is known to appreciate on the secondary market and can go for as much as  $265 000 (R4,55 million).

The Ref. 5740/1G isn’t the only watch from the Swiss manufacture in Messi’s collection. He also owns an 18-karat rose-gold Nautilus Flyback Chronograph Ref. 5980/1R, an 18-karat white-gold Aquanaut Chronograph Ref. 5968G-001 as well as a unique variation of the popular 5711, a stainless-steel Ref. 5711/1A-001 with a white “piano” dial.

In the past, Messi has also been seen wearing watches from Audemars Piguet and Rolex. The former actually partnered with him in 2012 to produce a limited-edition watch, the Royal Oak Leo Messi Chronograph.

As for Patek, the watchmaker axed the popular stainless steel Nautilus in favour of the white and gold one he has worn in Qatar, allowing for a “peek into the future of the line”:

Messi’s white-gold Patek Philippe Nautilus is a peek into the future of the line: https://t.co/At277QVKFh pic.twitter.com/apdUZsk6BR

— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) November 26, 2022

If this is something you care about, good for you.

The rest of us will stick to marvelling at the on-field skills of the greatest footballer the world has ever produced.

[source:robbreport]