Sydney — New Zealand defender Tim Payne’s online presence has surged recently due to the spotlight from Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini, known as “elscarso” on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Scarsini encouraged his followers to engage with Payne’s account, significantly raising its popularity.

Payne’s Instagram account saw a dramatic increase in followers, jumping from 4,715 to 660,000 in just a few days. This surge in followers exceeded even those of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Payne responded to Scarsini’s efforts with a message expressing his gratitude.

The defender previously made news in 2020 when he breached quarantine restrictions in Australia. Payne faced charges for drunk driving after taking a golf cart on a joyride with a teammate and was fined nearly $500 by a Sydney court. Since then, he has maintained a low profile.

At 32 years old, Payne is set to add to his 50 appearances for New Zealand, having been selected for Darren Bazeley’s World Cup squad. New Zealand, ranked the lowest in the tournament, will begin their campaign against Iran in Los Angeles on June 15. They are also scheduled to face Egypt and Belgium in Group G.