The unexpected rise of Tim Payne, the footballer who conquered social media at the 2026 World Cup

Journalist Sol Manzano came across Tim Payne in Paraguay, a New Zealand footballer who went viral thanks to a campaign led by an Argentine influencer during the 2026 World Cup.

The Payne Phenomenon

Journalist Sol Manzano, who was in Paraguay to cover the Roller Hockey World Cup, met Tim Payne, a player from New Zealand who went from obscurity to fame in the 2026 World Cup. Payne, currently playing for Olimpia in Paraguay, became a social media sensation thanks to the initiative of Valentín Scarsini, known as El Scarso.

Scarsini’s Challenge

It all started with a challenge: find the footballer with the fewest followers on Instagram among those called up for the 2026 World Cup. Payne, with just a few thousand followers at that time, was the chosen one. Scarsini encouraged his community to follow the defender, triggering explosive growth in the player's account and the creation of memes and slogans like "No Payne, No Gain."

International Impact

The virality of the case led millions of users to join the initiative, transcending borders and turning Payne into an international phenomenon. Grateful for the support received, the footballer saw how a simple idea on social media catapulted him to global fame.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El inesperado ascenso de Tim Payne, el futbolista que conquistó las redes en el Mundial 2026