New Zealand international footballer Tim Payne has become one of his country’s most-followed sporting figures after a dramatic surge in Instagram popularity sparked by a viral endorsement from an Argentine social media influencer.
The All Whites defender saw his Instagram following skyrocket from just 4,000 followers last week to nearly 4.9 million after Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini, popularly known as “El Scarso,” encouraged his massive online audience to support Payne’s account.
The viral campaign transformed Payne into New Zealand’s second most-followed sports personality on Instagram, trailing only UFC superstar Israel Adesanya, who boasts more than 8 million followers. Payne has now surpassed cricket icon Kane Williamson and the renowned All Blacks rugby team in social media reach.
The footballer and influencer met for the first time at New Zealand’s training camp in Florida on Wednesday, where Payne expressed his appreciation by presenting El Scarso with a signed New Zealand playing jersey.
While acknowledging the benefits of the unexpected attention, Payne remained grounded about his newfound online fame. He noted that the increased visibility is positive for both himself and New Zealand football but emphasized that his primary focus remains performing on the pitch and representing his country.
The social media success story comes at a challenging time for New Zealand’s national team. The All Whites suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Haiti in a World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday as preparations continue for the upcoming tournament.
New Zealand will face England in their final friendly match before the World Cup begins. The team has been drawn into a challenging group that includes Iran, Egypt, and Belgium, making their preparations crucial ahead of the competition.
Despite the recent setback on the field, Payne’s remarkable rise in social media popularity has brought unexpected international attention to New Zealand football, highlighting the growing influence of digital creators in modern sports.