Viral stunt sees World Cup’s ‘least-known’ player Tim Payne hit staggering 2.5m followers on …

Getty Images Sport New Zealand defender Tim Payne has seen his social media presence explode after a viral stunt transformed him into an internet sensation ahead of the World Cup. Orchestrated by a prominent Argentine influencer, the online campaign has rapidly propelled the veteran full-back’s Instagram follower count to a staggering 2.5 million users. Defender gains overnight fame New Zealand international Payne has experienced an unprecedented surge in social media popularity due to a deliberate promotional campaign launched by an Argentine influencer. Valen Scarsini, known online as ‘elscarso’, singled out the Wellington Phoenix defender after researching the tournament’s most obscure participants. The viral challenge immediately skyrocketed Payne’s Instagram followers from under 5,000 to over 2.5 million and counting, eclipsing the combined digital reach of national icons and political leaders. Getty Images Sport Influencer explains viral campaign Scarsini mobilised his substantial digital following by posting a video across TikTok and Instagram that accumulated over six million views. Explaining his strategic selection process, Scarsini urged fans to rally behind the veteran full-back: “I looked at all the teams that play the World Cup for the least-known player and, after analysing one by one, I found it. “Tim Payne is a defender and
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