New Zealand World Cup player Tim Payne gains over a million social media followers

AI Summary

New Zealand defender Tim Payne has gained over a million followers on social media after being singled out by Argentine football influencer El Scarso. Payne had around 4,700 followers earlier this week, but his following has grown at a rate of almost 1,000 per minute.

The Rise of Tim Payne

New Zealand defender Tim Payne has become an unlikely star after an influencer from Argentina called on his followers to unite and make the little-known 32-year-old a “hero” of the upcoming World Cup.

The Social Media Campaign

El Scarso, a football influencer also known as Valen Scarsini, identified Payne as the least-known player at the World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico based on his small social media following. Payne had around 4,700 followers on Instagram earlier this week, but his following has grown at a rate of almost 1,000 per minute to more than a million by Friday.

The Impact on Payne's Fame

Payne’s following is now six times greater than New Zealand’s captain and best-known player, Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood. Scarsini, who has more than 500,000 followers, implored his base to “start mentioning Tim Payne everywhere.”

The Future of Tim Payne's Career

Now there is even a song supporting Payne, who recently made his 50th appearance for New Zealand after making his debut at 18. Payne, who plays his club football for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Men, responded Friday to his new-found social media fandom, expressing his gratitude to Scarsini and his fans.