How rare is Lamine Yamal's $400,000 watch gifted in Dubai?

The 18-year-old Spanish striker was honored on Dec. 28, 2025, with both the Best Forward of the Year and the Maradona Award, the latter of which was accompanied by the US$400,000 Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon Baguette.

This timepiece is the result of a high-profile collaboration between American jeweler and watchmaker Jacob & Co. and supercar manufacturer Bugatti. While the standard Bugatti Tourbillon line consists of 150 pieces, the Baguette Edition gifted to Yamal is restricted to a mere 18 units.

The design of the watch mirrors the engineering of a supercar, featuring three spheres on the upper face and a lower section inspired by Bugatti's 8.0 L V16 engine. Crafted from 18-karat white gold, the watch is encrusted with 328 diamonds and 18 rubies, with the gems positioned at the base to resemble the iconic taillights of a Bugatti vehicle.

A close-up look of the Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon Baguette watch. Photo by Jacob & Co.

Globe Soccer Awards, often referred to as the "Dubai d'Or," have been held annually since 2010. Co-founded by football agent Jorge Mendes, the awards utilize a two-stage selection process involving public voting and a panel of industry experts, including journalists, agents and former players.

The award is frequently criticized by analysts as a commercial endeavor lacking the prestige of the Ballon d'Or or FIFA The Best, often drawing scrutiny for its perceived bias toward specific figures like Mendes, who won Best Agent of the Year for 16 years and Cristiano Ronaldo, who won a record six times Best Player of the Year.

During the 2025 ceremony, Paris Saint-Germain dominated the major categories, securing titles for Best Club of the Year, Best Player of the Year for Ousmane Dembele, and Best Coach of the Year for Luis Enrique.

Other notable winners included Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati for Best Women's Player of the Year and Ronaldo, who took home the Best Middle East Player award. Tennis legend Novak Djokovic was also recognized with the Globe Sports Award, while former footballers Andres Iniesta and Hidetoshi Nakata received Player Career Awards for their contributions to the game.