Controversy Surrounding the Mexico National Team and Rolex Watches
The Mexico national team has returned a collection of Rolex watches worth $1 million to American online content creator Stephen Deleonardis, also known as Stevewilldoit, in an effort to avoid violating FIFA rules.
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The watches were gifted to the team following their 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. Deleonardis, a YouTube personality with over 1.53 million subscribers, claimed that the watches were worth between $30,000 and $90,000 each.
In a statement posted to the Mexico national team’s official social media account, the team said that the decision to return the watches was made by mutual agreement between the players and Deleonardis, who had gifted the watches to the team ‘on his own initiative.’
According to reports, Deleonardis had rewarded the team with the watches in an effort to motivate them to win against Ecuador. However, FIFA rules prohibit accepting gifts from supporters that do not have ‘symbolic or tribal value,’ which could potentially influence a match result.
The restrictions, outlined in Article 21 of the organization’s Code of Ethics, are designed to prevent any actions that could compromise the integrity of the game. Violating these rules can result in a fine of at least $12,500 in U.S. dollars or 10,000 Swiss francs, as well as a ban from participating in any football-related activity for a maximum of two years.
Deleonardis has gained notoriety online for his extreme drinking challenges and outrageous pranks, and has an online following of 3.7 million followers on Instagram. However, his actions have now raised concerns about the potential for influencing match results.
The Mexico national team has won all four of their matches in the 2026 World Cup so far, defeating South Africa 2-0, South Korea 1-0, Czechia 3-0, and Ecuador 2-0. Their next match is scheduled to take place on [date].
It is worth noting that the Mexico national team’s decision to return the watches does not necessarily mean that they were influenced by the gifts. However, the incident highlights the potential risks of accepting gifts from supporters and the importance of adhering to FIFA rules to maintain the integrity of the game.
