Tim Payne was thrilled to greet Valen Scarsini with a warm hug and express his immense gratitude. Nearly 5 million followers, in fact. Thanks to social media support.
The New Zealand defender encountered the Argentine influencer, known as “El Scarso,” on Wednesday after Scarsini rallied his fans to boost support for Payne, labeling him the “least known” player in the World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico due to his modest social media presence.
Since that moment, the 32-year-old Payne’s Instagram followers skyrocketed from just under 5,000 to over 5 million, turning him into a viral sensation.
– The story of how the 2026 World Cup’s ‘least-known’ player became a viral sensation
Scarsini witnessed Payne’s New Zealand team, the All Whites, lose 4-0 to Haiti in a friendly match in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday night. The following morning, he met with Payne at the team hotel in Boca Raton.
“My friend!” Scarsini exclaimed upon entering and spotting Payne. “How are you?”
“I’m good, bro, how about you?” replied a smiling Payne as he embraced him. “Great to meet you.”
Payne also greeted him with a “Cómo estás?” — Spanish for “How are you?” — humorously noting that it was about the extent of his Spanish skills.
Payne expressed his gratitude to Scarsini for “everything” and described the entire experience as “very crazy.”
“I didn’t know how to feel, it’s all so new to me,” Payne shared. “I’m still processing it, but it’s amazing. I truly appreciate you doing this for me.”
Scarsini then asked Payne about the whirlwind of newfound fame just before the World Cup.
“It’s obviously beneficial for myself and New Zealand football as a whole,” Payne acknowledged. “It shines a spotlight on us, which is positive, but at the same time, I remain unchanged. I’m still committed to playing football and performing for my country.”
Scarsini suggested that Payne should visit him in Argentina someday, and he, in turn, would love to visit New Zealand. Before parting, Payne gifted him an All Whites jersey with his number, 2, and they took photos together, embracing once more.
New Zealand kicks off its Group G play in the World Cup against Iran on June 15 in Inglewood, California. They will also face Belgium and Egypt in this group. Appearing in the World Cup for the third time after their qualifications in 1982 and 2010, New Zealand is still in search of their first victory.