After achieving virtually every milestone possible in professional soccer, Lionel Messi has received an unexpected honor that transcends the pitch: a newly discovered plant species named in his honor. The plant, scientifically dubbed Salvia messii, was introduced in the latest issue of the botanical journal Phytotaxa. Native to the rugged terrain of the Peruvian Andes, this rare flower is currently classified as endangered due to its highly limited geographic range.

The decision to name the species after the Argentine icon stems from its distinct white and sky-blue petals, which perfectly mirror the iconic kit worn by Argentina’s national team. Following traditional botanical naming conventions—which require an added "i" at the end of a surname to denote an eponym—the name serves as a permanent tribute to the legendary forward. It is a fitting nod to a player who recently concluded a monumental international career defined by a World Cup victory and a legacy that has now quite literally taken root in the natural world.