New Zealand footballer Tim Payne met the influencer behind his stunning viral fame on Wednesday, presenting him with a team shirt after gaining almost five million Instagram followers in a week.
New Zealand player meets influencer behind sudden viral fame and millions of new followers | football | SuperSport | SuperSport New Zealand footballer Tim Payne met the influencer behind his stunning viral fame on Wednesday, presenting him with a team shirt after gaining almost five million Instagram followers in a week.
Argentine social media giant Valen Scarsini, known as"El Scarso", last week asked his fans to boost unheralded Payne's following, calling him the"least known" player at the World Cup. It kicked off an online explosion of interest with Payne going from 4,000 followers to 4.9 million in a few days. The two met for the first time at New Zealand's training camp in Florida, with Payne thanking Scarsini for his support.
"It puts a light on us, which is a positive thing, but at the same time, for me, I don't change. "I'm still the person I am, so I just keep trying to do what I do, which is play football and focus on trying to perform for my country. ""Fly to Argentina! " Scarsini told him.
Payne's Instagram account now has more followers than the rugby-obsessed country's All Blacks team, who have a mere 2.8 million. Scarsini travelled to Florida to watch Payne and New Zealand in a pre-World Cup friendly at Inter Miami's stadium on Tuesday, where they were beaten 4-0 by fellow World Cup qualifiers Haiti. --------------------------------Fans can watch every FIFA World Cup 2026™ match live on DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access.
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