Two days ago, New Zealand defender Tim Payne had fewer than 5,000 Instagram followers. Today, he has cracked the one million mark, thanks to a viral post from Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini. The 32-year-old All Whites player has become an internet sensation, with celebrities and fans jumping on the bandwagon.
The Viral Moment
Scarsini, known on Instagram and TikTok as escarlo, created a video based on one idea: to find the least famous player in the 2026 World Cup. After scouring the rosters of all participating teams, he settled on Payne. The concept took root and exploded online, spawning memes and widespread shares. Payne's Instagram account surged from 4,715 followers to over one million in less than two days, even surpassing Scarsini's own follower count of 514,000. He now boasts the most-followed soccer page in New Zealand.
Payne's Reaction
Initially confused by the sudden attention, Payne tracked down the original post and sent Scarsini a message of appreciation. On Thursday, he took to Instagram again, saying: "Just want to say a massive thank you first to you, Valen. It's been a pretty crazy 48 hours to say the least. I just wanted to also express that I'm very grateful to represent my country at this World Cup, and I appreciate all the love from all around the world. Mucho gracias!"
Who is Tim Payne?
Some West Coast soccer enthusiasts may remember Payne from his brief stint with the Portland Timbers second team in the 2015-16 season, or his impressive performance at the 2011 U17 World Cup, which led to a trial with then-Premier League side Blackburn Rovers. However, he has spent most of his career with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League, scoring four goals in 133 appearances. He has scored twice in 50 caps for the All Whites, both in World Cup qualifying matches (against Solomon Islands in 2014 and Fiji in 2025).
Past Controversy
Payne's biggest claim to infamy came in 2020 when he and teammate Oliver Sail were cited for DUI after a drunken evening golf cart cruise in Sydney, which also broke COVID-19 quarantine. He was fined approximately CAD $700 and made a remorseful public apology.
Upcoming World Cup Matches
The world's newest darling will visit B.C. Place twice next month, as the Kiwis play Egypt on June 21 and Belgium on June 26. New Zealand, ranked 85th in the world, is the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup. They will open their tournament against Iran in Los Angeles on June 15.
