Messi Immortalised As New Plant Species Discovered In Peru
Football legend Lionel Messi has earned an unusual honour after researchers named a newly discovered plant species Salvia messii after the Argentina captain.
The endangered species is endemic to the Andes mountain range in central and southern Peru, with its light blue and white flowers resembling the colours of Argentina’s national jersey.
According to a report by The Atheist, the plant’s scientific classification was documented in an academic study led by Paul Gonzales of the Natural History Museum of the National University of San Marcos, Argentine researcher Rolando Uria, and biologist Jean Capcha-Ramos of Huarango Nature.
The name Salvia messii follows international botanical naming conventions, with the suffix “i” added to Messi’s surname to signify that the plant is named in his honour.
Belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae, the plant can grow up to 1.5 metres tall and thrives on rocky, arid mountain slopes between 2,000 and 2,400 metres above sea level.
However, researchers have classified the species as endangered, citing climate change and forest fires as major threats to its survival.
Messi, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, captained Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title and won two Copa America trophies.
The Inter Miami forward has also inspired other unusual scientific tributes to football stars. Earlier this year, a newly discovered marine mollusc was named after Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, while a sea snail species was named after former Real Madrid and Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas in 2019.
