Scientists have named a new flowering plant discovered in the Peruvian Andes after Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, the Andina news agency reported.

The plant has been given the scientific name “Salvia messii”. According to the agency, the name was chosen because the white and light-blue color of the flowers resembles the colors of the Argentina national team’s kit—a team captained by Messi.

This species belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is found only in the Andes of central and southern Peru. Given its limited range, the authors of the scientific paper—Paul Gonzales, Rolando Uria, and Jean Capcha-Ramos—have classified “Salvia messii” as an endangered species.

Thus, at least six biological species bear Messi’s name. Previously, a lizard (“Liolaemus messii”), a spider (“Acanthogonatus messii”), and a fungus (“Cercopemyces messii”) were named in his honor, as were two extinct species: a condor (“Vultur messii”) and a marine invertebrate (“Discinisca messii”).

Messi is 39 years old. At the 2026 World Cup, he reached the final with his team, scoring eight goals and finishing as the tournament’s second-highest scorer behind Frenchman Kylian Mbappé (10 goals). In total, Messi played 208 matches for the Argentine national team and scored 126 goals. On October 6, he played his final match for the national side.

The forward is the all-time top scorer in the history of the Spanish league, FC Barcelona, and the Argentina national team, and an eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or. With his national team, he has won the Copa América twice (2021, 2024), triumphed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, earned two silver medals at the World Cup (2014, 2026), and won the Finalissima (2022).