New Zealand's Tim Payne on viral World Cup fame

New Zealand defender Tim Payne has become one of the unexpected stars of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with his Instagram following soaring from 5,000 to over five million in just three weeks. The 32-year-old All Whites veteran spoke to FIFA about how he has dealt with becoming an overnight sensation in the build-up to the tournament.

Viral fame from an influencer's comment

Payne's sudden rise to global fame began when Argentine football influencer Valen Scarsini, known online as El Scarso, branded him as the 'least-known player at the World Cup,' based solely on his then-small social media following. While the description was not entirely accurate—Payne has been part of the New Zealand national team since 2012 and has earned more than 50 caps—the comment sparked a viral wave that turned Payne into a worldwide sensation.

Taking it in stride

Despite the whirlwind of attention, Payne appears to be taking the situation in stride. 'I'm still processing it and coming to terms with it,' he told FIFA. 'The main thing about it is that it's come from a really positive place and it's really cool. I appreciate Valen for that.' He added, 'It's been nice and positive with all the attention that has come my way but I'm still the same person. I'm still a hard-working Kiwi trying to represent our country on the world stage and that's never going to change.'

Commercial implications uncertain

The veteran defender remains unsure whether his massive social media following could prove beneficial commercially. 'I'm still processing it and seeing what it looks like in the long term,' he said. 'My main focus is this tournament and trying to put on a performance for New Zealand.'

Family reactions

Payne noted that his family has found the situation amusing. 'My family has found it quite funny and my partner has been able to translate all the Spanish jokes in there. It's come from a good place and my parents are very 'unsocial media' so they are trying to understand it too.'

On-field performance

Payne demonstrated his skills on the field as he helped New Zealand secure an entertaining 2-2 draw with IR Iran in their World Cup opener in Los Angeles. 'The atmosphere of the stadium was fantastic,' he said. 'I think we're a little bit disappointed about being up twice in the game and ending up drawing it but we'll take the learnings and go from there.'