Luka Modrić's Watch Collection: Pepsi GMT, Daytona Ghost, and Aquanaut
Last updated: June 2026
Luka Modrić's watches are mostly Rolex, with one prominent Patek. Across the past several seasons he has been photographed in a Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi" Ref. 126710BLRO, a Rolex Daytona "Ghost" Ref. 116519, a yellow-gold Daytona 116508-0004, and a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A.
Modrić is one of the more documented watch wearers in football: the Pepsi GMT shows up in match arrivals and press conferences across multiple seasons, the Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A is documented in his rotation, and the Ghost Daytona started appearing after his 2018 Ballon d'Or win. On May 18, 2026, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić named the 40-year-old in his final 26-man squad and confirmed him as captain for what is almost certainly his fifth and final World Cup (per the Washington Post and FOX Sports). This guide walks through the three confirmed pieces, the Hublot advertising connection, and the 50-Daytona thank-you story that gets a fuller treatment in a separate article.
Table of Contents
Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi" 126710BLRO: His Multi-Year Signature
Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi" Ref. 126710BLRO. The exact reference Modrić has worn across multiple seasons of press conferences, match arrivals, and award nights. Image: Watches Off 5th inventory.
The Pepsi GMT 126710BLRO is the watch Modrić wears most. It shows up in match arrivals, press conferences, training-ground photos, and casual settings across multiple seasons. The reference launched in 2018 with the 3285 caliber, a Jubilee bracelet, and the red-and-blue ceramic Cerachrom bezel that earned the "Pepsi" nickname (a GMT is a complication that tracks a second time zone using the rotating bezel).
Retail was $12,300 before Rolex discontinued the reference at Watches and Wonders in April 2026. Secondary market pricing has climbed since the discontinuation: as of June 2026 average examples trade around $25,000 and unworn pieces push past $40,000, with condition, year, and box-and-papers status driving the spread. This reflects industry experience and is not financial advice.
The Jubilee bracelet gives the watch a dressier read than the Oyster-bracelet GMTs. Modrić has worn it with a suit at UEFA award nights and with a Real Madrid tracksuit the same week. It is documented by superwatchman.com in his publicly photographed wristshots.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reference | 126710BLRO |
| Case | 40 mm Oystersteel |
| Bracelet | Jubilee |
| Movement | Caliber 3285, GMT function |
| Retail | $12,300 |
| Secondary | $25,000+ |
We see the 126710BLRO trade actively in the pre-owned channel. It is one of the easier Rolex sport references to source compared with a steel Daytona or a Pepsi on the older Ref. 16710.
Rolex Daytona "Ghost" 116519 and the Yellow Gold 116508-0004
Two Daytonas have been documented on Modrić's wrist, and they appear to be separate pieces in his rotation rather than the same watch. The first is the Daytona "Ghost" Ref. 116519, a white-gold case with a grey-and-black dial configuration that earned the Ghost nickname for its muted tone. Iflwatches.com documents Modrić's ownership of the 116519 Ghost. Its appearance in his rotation followed his December 3, 2018 Ballon d'Or win in Paris per secondary reporting on that period.
The second is the yellow gold Daytona Ref. 116508-0004, the green-dial yellow gold reference Rolex ran from 2016 to 2023. Modrić has been photographed in this one as well, and it sits in a different register than the Ghost: more overt gold, brighter dial, dressier read.
The Daytona is Rolex's chronograph — a complication that measures elapsed time using the central seconds hand and the subdials. The 116519 and 116508 references both run the 4130 caliber, which Rolex used from 2000 to 2023 before the 4131 update.
For why Modrić owns Daytonas in plural, see Modrić's 50-Daytona thank-you after the 2018 Ballon d'Or.
Patek Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A: The Documented Patek
The Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A is a Patek piece in Modrić's documented rotation. It is the stainless-steel Aquanaut Chronograph, introduced by Patek in 2018 with the CH 28-520 C automatic chronograph caliber and a black embossed dial. Modrić owns the orange-strap variant per iflwatches.com.
The 5968A is one of the few stainless Patek references with a chronograph function, and it slots into the same Aquanaut family as the time-only 5167A that Messi and other footballers have worn. For more on that connection see our piece on why footballers love Patek Philippe.
Patek's broader catalog continues to add Aquanaut variants. See our coverage of Patek's 2026 new releases for the latest releases in the Aquanaut and Nautilus lines. The 5968A remains a current production reference as of June 2026.
We don't see the 5968A come through our pre-owned channel often. It is one of the harder Patek chronographs to source in the secondary market, with waitlists at Patek boutiques and limited grey-market availability.
The Hublot Brand Association: Friend of Brand, Not Ambassador
Modrić has appeared in Hublot advertising campaigns and is associated with the brand publicly, per celebritynetworth.com and sportsdunia.com. He is best characterized as a friend of the brand rather than a contracted ambassador. He is not listed on Hublot's official ambassador roster on the brand's website.
The distinction matters: Hublot's ambassador roster includes contractual obligations like wristshot frequency, public appearances, and content production. A friend-of-brand relationship is looser and does not commit the player to wearing the watches.
The wristshots documented across Modrić's career are the Rolexes and the Patek, not the Hublots. As of June 2026 we treat the Hublot connection as an advertising-campaign relationship and nothing firmer.
The 50-Daytona Giveaway, In Brief
After Modrić won the 2018 Ballon d'Or in Paris on December 3, 2018 (breaking the decade-long Messi and Ronaldo duopoly), he bought 50 Rolex watches as thank-you gifts for his Real Madrid and Croatian national-team squads. Per Simon Bastiansen, Modrić's former head of partnerships, the gifts went to teammates, coaches, the team doctor, the physical therapist, and the team drivers. The Bastiansen quote first surfaced in January 2023 (the originating Madrid Zone post is now defunct; the quote survives via secondary English-language reporting from Firstsportz, Sportskeeda, and EssentiallySports). Bastiansen did not specify model or material. Follow-up reporting describes 25 rose-gold Daytonas for the Real Madrid squad; the Croatia 25 are not specified by reference.
Per-watch cost was not stated by Bastiansen. Secondary English-language reporting (Firstsportz, Sportskeeda, EssentiallySports) cites a total outlay around $1.5 million across both squads; at roughly €40,000 per Daytona the figure runs closer to $2 million, but the original Bastiansen quote gave no number. All dollar figures here are USD.
Context that explains the gesture: Modrić grew up in wartime Croatia, and his grandfather was killed by Serb forces in 1991 when Modrić was a child. The Ballon d'Or thank-you was personal generosity, not a marketing exercise.
For the full story, the source chain, and the question of which specific rose-gold Daytona reference Modrić bought in bulk, see our standalone piece on Modrić's 50-Daytona thank-you after the 2018 Ballon d'Or.
Modrić Going Into 2026
On May 18, 2026, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić named the 40-year-old Modrić in his final 26-man squad and confirmed him as captain for what is almost certainly his fifth and final World Cup (per the Washington Post and FOX Sports). Croatia reached the 2026 tournament via UEFA qualification, topping its group with seven wins from eight matches.
Modrić's previous four World Cups were 2006, 2014, 2018 (Croatia runners-up), and 2022 (Croatia third). A 2026 appearance would make him one of the few outfield players to feature in five tournaments.
For the broader cluster context and squad-by-squad coverage, see our complete 2026 World Cup watches guide.
Sources: superwatchman.com for the Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi documentation; iflwatches.com for the Daytona Ghost 116519, yellow gold Daytona 116508-0004, and Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A (orange strap); the Bastiansen 50-Rolex quote first surfaced January 2023 via Madrid Zone (post now defunct) and survives in secondary English-language reporting (Firstsportz, Sportskeeda, EssentiallySports). Hublot brand association is per celebritynetworth.com and sportsdunia.com (friend-of-brand framing, not ambassador). Squad composition reflects Croatia's final 26-man squad, named by Zlatko Dalić on May 18, 2026 with Modrić confirmed as captain (per the Washington Post and FOX Sports), as of June 2026. Retail pricing reflects brand MSRP at the time of release; secondary market pricing varies by condition, year, and dealer. This article reflects industry experience and is not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What watches does Luka Modrić wear?
Three pieces are well-documented: the Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi" Reference 126710BLRO (his multi-year signature), a Rolex Daytona "Ghost" Reference 116519 from his post-2018 Ballon d'Or rotation, and the Patek Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A (orange-strap variant per iflwatches.com). A yellow gold Daytona Ref. 116508-0004 also appears.
Is Luka Modrić a Hublot ambassador?
Modrić has appeared in Hublot advertising campaigns but is not formally on the brand's ambassador roster. He is best characterized as a friend of the brand rather than a contracted ambassador. Per celebritynetworth.com and sportsdunia.com, the relationship is advertising-tier.
What is the Modrić 50-Daytona story?
After winning the 2018 Ballon d'Or, Modrić bought 50 Rolex watches as thank-you gifts for his Real Madrid and Croatian national-team squads. Coaches, the team doctor, the physical therapist, and team drivers all received one. Bastiansen's quote did not specify model or material; follow-up reporting describes 25 rose-gold Daytonas for the Real Madrid squad, with the Croatia 25 not specified by reference. Per-watch cost was not stated by Bastiansen; secondary English-language reporting cites a total outlay around $1.5 million (closer to $2 million at roughly $40,000 per Daytona).
Will Luka Modrić play in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. On May 18, 2026, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić named the 40-year-old in his final 26-man squad and confirmed him as captain for what is almost certainly his fifth and final World Cup (per the Washington Post and FOX Sports).
What is the Patek Aquanaut 5968A?
It is Patek's stainless-steel Aquanaut Chronograph, introduced in 2018 with the CH 28-520 C caliber and a black embossed dial. Modrić owns the orange-strap variant per iflwatches.com. The reference connects to football culture more broadly; the Aquanaut family appears regularly on professional footballer wrists.
How much is Modrić's Rolex Pepsi?
The 126710BLRO carried a $12,300 retail before Rolex discontinued it in April 2026, and as of June 2026 average examples trade around $25,000 on the secondary market, with unworn pieces pushing past $40,000. It is the most-photographed piece on Modrić's wrist across the past several seasons. Secondary market pricing varies by condition, year, and box-and-papers status.