Lionel Messi's legacy takes root with plant tribute

(Photo credit: Julian Leshay Guadalupe) Lionel Messi probably has earned every soccer honor possible during his decorated career. Now, a recently discovered plant species has led him to a one-of-a-kind tribute: a flower named after him. It's called Salvia messii in honor of the 39-year-old Messi. The plant is native to the Andes mountain range of central and southern Peru, and the October edition of botany journal Phytotaxa reported Salvia messii is an endangered species because of 'restricted distribution.' So how did it come to be named after Messi, who is a hero in Argentina, south of Peru? It's because of the plant's white and light blue flowers that mimic the colors of the jerseys worn by Argentina's national team. And Messi has worn it plenty of times since beginning his international career in 2005. The star of MLS' Inter Miami team, Messi announced his retirement from international play in August. For Argentina, he made 208 appearances and finished with 126 goals, 71 assists and six official titles, which include a World Cup, a Finalissima and two Copa America titles. And why is there an extra 'i' at the end of Salvia messii? The whole plant name follows the historic botanical naming convention, adding the letter to recognize the plant is named after a person. The lower-case spelling of his name is dictated by the same rule. --Field Level Media