Viral Kiwi star meets Argentine influencer who boosted following to 5M
New Zealand soccer player Tim Payne has gained significant fame after meeting Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini. Scarsini encouraged his followers to support Payne, resulting in a surge of his Instagram followers from 5,000 to over 5 million. As the FIFA World Cup approaches, Payne expresses gratitude for the unexpected attention while emphasizing his commitment to football.
- ▪Tim Payne met influencer Valen Scarsini after his follower count skyrocketed.
- ▪Scarsini's call to action led to Payne gaining over 5 million Instagram followers.
- ▪Payne's New Zealand team will begin World Cup play against Iran on June 15.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
New Zealand soccer player Tim Payne meets social media influencer who made him a celebrityTopic:FIFA World CupFri 5 Jun 2026 at 2:12pmFri 5 Jun 2026 at 2:12pmFri 5 Jun 2026 at 2:12pmTim Payne (left) has become an internet sensation ahead of the FIFA World Cup. (AP: Photosport/Masanori Udagawa)In short:New Zealand soccer player Tim Payne has met social media influencer Valen Scarsini after the Argentine encouraged his fans to follow the unheralded All Whites player. Since Scarsini's plea to his fans, Payne's followers on Instagram have risen from 5,000 to over 5 million.What's next?New Zealand opens its Group G play at the World Cup against Iran on June 15 in Inglewood, California.abc.net.au/news/nz-soccer-player-tim-payne-meets-social-media-influencer/106764438Link copiedShareShare…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).