New Endangered Plant Named After Lionel Messi in Peru

A newly discovered plant species, Salvia messii, has been named in honor of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi. This plant is classified as endangered due to threats from climate change and forest fires.

Salvia messii is native to the Andes mountains of central and southern Peru, where environmental pressures jeopardize its survival. The plant features light blue and white flowers, reflecting the colors of Argentina’s national football team jersey, which is associated with Messi.

The discovery was detailed in a study published in the October 2026 edition of the scientific journal Phytotaxa, titled “A remarkable new Salvia (Lamiaceae) from the ecotonal vegetation surrounding the western Andean relict forests of Peru.” The research was led by Paúl Gonzáles from the Natural History Museum at the National University of San Marcos in Peru, alongside Argentine researcher Rolando Uría and biologist Jean Capcha Ramos from Huarango Nature. Salvia messii can grow up to 1.5 metres tall and thrives on rocky, dry mountain slopes at elevations between 2,000 and 2,400 metres above sea level.