Lionel Messi gets sixth species named after him

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FT Desk

Lionel Messi officially has six species named after him.

Up until recently, the Argentine had five species named after him, which was still a Guinness World Record.

Scientists discovered a new species of snake in Ecuador in 2023 and named it Synophis messii as a tribute to the superstar. The snake is a small, non-venomous species that lives in Ecuador's cloud forests. The researchers also hoped that naming it after someone as well-known as Messi would help bring more attention to the region's unique wildlife and the need to protect it.

Also in 2023, scientists discovered a new species of spider in Argentina and named it Acanthogonatus messii.

It's a small burrowing species found in the sandy landscapes of the South American country.

The Guinness World Records state:

"The most species formally named after a soccer player is five, for the Argentinean striker Lionel Andrés Messi. They are: Liolaemus messii, an iguanian lizard from Argentina's Rosario de Lerma Department, named in 2021; Acanthogonatus messii, a mygalomorph burrowing spider from Argentinean Patagonia, named in 2023; Discinisca messi, a fossil species of brachiopod from the Miocene Epoch of Argentina, named in 2023; Vultur messii, a fossil species of condor from the Pliocene Epoch of Argentina, named in 2023; and Cercopemyces messii, a type of fungus discovered in the Andean cloud forest of Argentina and formally described in the journal Mycological Progress in May 2024."

A sixth has now been named after him, 'Salvia messii'. It is a newly discovered plant species in Peru and it was named after him due to its light blue and white colour.

Another Argentine legend, Diego Maradona, also has some species named after him.

One example is Bogasonia maradoniana, a deep-sea snail discovered by Argentine researchers. They chose its name as a tribute to Maradona because he was a national icon who brought pride and joy to Argentina, especially after their 1986 World Cup victory.

Another example is Diegoglossidium maradonai, a parasitic flatworm found in freshwater fish. The researchers named both the new genus and species after Maradona, explaining that the dedication was meant to celebrate his influence and the happiness he gave to millions of people around the world.

"They also pointed out that naming a parasite after someone is not meant as an insult. In biology, it is simply a way of honouring a person.