Messi Just Got an Unusual Honor From Scientists — an Endangered Plant Now Bears His Name
Lionel Messi has received plenty of honors throughout his legendary soccer career, but his latest recognition comes from an unexpected place: the plant kingdom. Scientists have named a newly identified species after the Argentine superstar, and its flowers have a special connection to his homeland.
The plant, discovered in the mountains of Peru, produces delicate blue and white flowers resembling the colors of Argentina’s national soccer jersey. Researchers decided the resemblance was simply too fitting to let this opportunity slip by.
The newly described species in question is called Salvia messii, named for the 39-year-old athlete who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup and became the most decorated Ballon d’Or winner in soccer history—and now he can add a species of flowering plant to the list of honors.
There’s another crucial detail about the plant’s discovery. Despite thriving in the rugged Andes, the flower is already considered endangered, with concerns for its future already beginning to blossom.
Scientists Name Rare Andean Plant After Messi
Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.
View this post on Instagram
The discovery was formally documented in an Oct. 2 study published in Phytotaxa by researchers Paúl Gonzáles, Rolando Uría, and Jean Capcha-Ramos.
Gonzáles, a botanist affiliated with Peru’s National University of San Marcos, also shared a video on Instagram explaining the unusual tribute.
He said the researchers chose Messi’s name because of his extraordinary career and influence on millions of people the world over. The plant’s blue and white flowers cemented its visual connection to Argentina.
The species is part of the mint family, which also includes more familiar herbs such as rosemary and basil. It can grow about five feet tall and grows on rocky mountain slopes between 6,560 and 7,875 feet above sea level.
Its flowers feature pale blue upper portions and white tubular sections, with small fuchsia-colored structures surrounding them.
The discovery took years to confirm. Although populations had been observed as early as 2009, scientists needed additional specimens to establish that the plant was genuinely different from previously recognized species.
Fieldwork between 2023 and 2025 helped provide the evidence needed for its formal scientific description.
Messi’s Namesake Plant is Already Endangered
It can be lonely at the top. Despite its ability to grow in challenging mountain environments, Salvia messii has a limited natural range.
The species is currently known from just six locations in Peru’s Lima and Ica regions, according to La República.
Researchers have identified recurring wildfires and road construction among the threats to its habitat. Droughts associated with climate change are another concern.
The study assesses the plant as endangered because of its restricted distribution. The researchers also suggest that the surrounding Andean shrublands may contain other plant species that have yet to be formally identified.
Messi’s name has already made its way into the scientific world several times. Researchers have honored him with a species of lizard, a spider, and even a fungus, among other organisms. In fact, Guinness World Records recognized him in 2024 as the soccer player with the most species named in his honor.
Still, Salvia messii has an unusually visual connection to the athlete: its flowers bear the same colors he wore while representing Argentina and shaping sports history. Ultimately, it’s quite an interesting honor!
