The meteoric rise of Tim Payne: from unknown to star of the 2026 World Cup

New Zealand right-back Tim Payne has gone from being a complete unknown to becoming a global sensation of the 2026 World Cup thanks to a viral campaign driven by an Argentinian influencer.

The viral phenomenon that transformed Tim Payne

New Zealand's right-back, Tim Payne, has experienced a meteoric rise in his popularity after being chosen by the Argentinian influencer Valen Scarsini as the 'least known' player of the 2026 World Cup. Thanks to this campaign, Payne went from having just 4,715 followers on Instagram to over 2.5 million in a matter of days, becoming one of the most talked-about names on the tournament's social media.

The impact on Payne's career

At 32 years old, Tim Payne, who had never before made international headlines, is now at the center of attention as an internet celebrity. This unexpected turn in his career has led him to be recognized as one of the most famous footballers of the World Cup, completely changing his public exposure and placing him in an unimaginable position just a week ago.

The transformation of an unknown into a star

From his suspension in 2020 for breaching health restrictions, to becoming a prominent figure of the 2026 World Cup, Tim Payne has undergone an unprecedented transformation. While New Zealand gears up for its debut in the tournament, Payne faces a new reality as one of the most popular and discussed players, all thanks to a simple viral question that altered his fate in the competition.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El ascenso meteórico de Tim Payne: de desconocido a estrella del Mundial 2026