Sydney — Tim Payne, a New Zealand defender, has experienced a rapid increase in social media attention. This change followed a post by an Argentine influencer who labeled him the least known player at the World Cup. Valen Scarsini, recognized as “elscarso” on Instagram and TikTok, urged his followers to engage with Payne’s account by liking, commenting, and following.
Within a few days, Payne’s Instagram followers skyrocketed from 4,715 to 660,000. This unexpected rise even surpassed the follower count of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
In response to the surge, Payne thanked Scarsini with the words, “Was wondering why my socials were blowing up and found your post, man. Appreciate the love! Gracias, hermano.”
Back in 2020, Payne made headlines when he broke quarantine rules in Australia during the pandemic. He was charged with drunk driving after taking a golf cart on a joyride with a teammate. Sydney court later fined him nearly $500 for this incident.
At 32, Payne is a versatile player who has since maintained a relatively low profile. He aims to add to his 50 caps for New Zealand at the World Cup, being part of Darren Bazeley’s squad for the event.
New Zealand, ranked lowest at the World Cup, will commence its campaign against Iran in Los Angeles on June 15. The team will also compete against Egypt and Belgium in Group G.
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