Scientists Name Endangered Peruvian Plant After Lionel Messi for a Special Reason

• Lionel Messi has received an unexpected honour outside football, with a newly discovered plant named after the Argentine legend
• The plant’s blue and white flowers resemble Argentina’s national colours, giving the discovery a special football connection
• The endangered species grows in Peru’s Andes mountains and faces threats from climate change and forest fires

Lionel Messi has received an unusual honour after scientists named a newly discovered plant species after the Argentine football legend. The plant, called Salvia messii, grows in Peru's Andes mountains and has been classified as endangered.

The New York Times' The Athletic reported the discovery on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The species has light blue and white flowers resembling the colours of Argentina's national football shirt.

Messi, 39, plays club football for Inter Miami. He enjoyed a celebrated international career with Argentina, winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa América titles.

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What makes the Salvia messii plant special?

The plant belongs to the mint family, known scientifically as Lamiaceae. It can grow to approximately 1.5 metres tall and survives on rocky, dry mountain slopes.

Researchers found it at elevations of between 2,000 and 2,400 metres above sea level in the Andes of central and southern Peru.

The name follows international botanical naming conventions. The addition of the letter “i” to Messi's surname indicates possession, making Salvia messii roughly equivalent to “Messi's plant”.

The research was led by Paul Gonzales of the Natural History Museum at the National University of San Marcos, alongside Argentine researcher Rolando Uria and biologist Jean Capcha-Ramos of Huarango Nature.

Why the newly named plant is endangered

Climate change and forest fires pose significant risks to Salvia messii, contributing to its endangered status despite its ability to grow in rocky, dry conditions.

Messi is not the first footballer to have a newly identified species named in his honour. In 2026, researchers named a marine mollusc after Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, while Spanish researcher Jesús Ortea named a tiny sea snail after former Real Madrid and Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas in 2019.

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The discovery adds an unusual scientific connection to Messi's legacy, taking his name beyond the football pitch and into the biodiversity of Peru's Andes mountains.

Lionel Messi's luxury yacht adds another chapter to his life away from football

Briefly News previously reported that Lionel Messi had ordered an 88-foot luxury yacht from Sunreef Yachts, adding another vessel to his MIM Ocean fleet.

The yacht, which is being built in the United Arab Emirates, is designed with five cabins, a spacious master suite and facilities for water sports. Messi said his family enjoyed spending time at sea whenever they had the opportunity.

Source: Briefly News