From 5,000 followers to over a million: New Zealand World Cup player finds internet fame

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Tim Payne’s Incredible Rise to Social Media Stardom

Wellington: New Zealand defender Tim Payne has become an overnight global celebrity after his Instagram following skyrocketed from 5,000 to nearly 1 million ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

This unprecedented social media surge has made the Wellington Phoenix star the most-followed player in the New Zealand squad, despite being previously described as one of the team's ‘least known’ members.

The explosion was triggered by influencer Valen Scarsini, known online as ‘elscarso’. Scarsini combed through World Cup squads to find the tournament's ‘least-known’ player, ultimately selecting Payne and urging millions of fans to flood his profile with support.

The campaign exploded across Latin America, causing Payne's notifications to blow up while in a pre-tournament training camp. The stunned 32-year-old defender privately messaged Scarsini to thank him before posting a public video expressing his gratitude to fans worldwide.

Industry experts cite this as a prime example of the unpredictable power of social media algorithms and fan-driven ‘raids’ during major global sporting events.