New Zealand's Tim Payne has become an unlikely internet star, with his Instagram following exploding to 5.6 million.

What happened?

Payne, a defender for New Zealand's national soccer team, had just under 5,000 Instagram followers before Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini urged fans to support him. The campaign worked quickly, with Payne's account climbing past 5 million followers in a matter of days.

Why it matters for New Zealand

The sudden rise has turned Payne into one of the most unexpected viral stories leading into the tournament. Payne, 32, plays for the All Whites, and before the online campaign, he was not a household name for many fans outside New Zealand. That changed once Scarsini's followers started flooding Payne's Instagram account.

What comes next?

New Zealand is in Group G at the FIFA World Cup, along with Iran, Belgium, and Egypt. Payne's sudden online fame means more fans may be watching New Zealand's matches with a new reason to follow along. As of the team's last result, Ecuador beat New Zealand 2-0 on 2025-11-19. The team's recent form has been 0W-1D-4L, with losses in their last two matches. | Date | Result | | --- | --- | | 2025-11-19 | Ecuador 2-0 New Zealand | The All Whites will look to improve their form in the upcoming tournament.