Home / Sports / Unlikely Soccer Star Rises from Obscurity to World Cup Fame
Unlikely Soccer Star Rises from Obscurity to World Cup Fame
29 May
Summary
- An influencer's call led to a player's massive social media growth.
- Player's follower count increased by nearly 1,000 per minute.
- New Zealand's World Cup team has a history of not winning matches.
An Argentinian soccer influencer has propelled New Zealand defender Tim Payne into an unlikely global spotlight ahead of the World Cup. Influencer El Scarso, with over 500,000 followers, identified Payne as the least recognized player based on his minimal social media presence.
Following El Scarso's appeal to his followers to "make Tim Payne a hero," the 32-year-old's Instagram following surged dramatically. Payne's follower count grew at a rate of nearly 1,000 per minute, surpassing one million by Friday and significantly exceeding that of New Zealand's captain, Chris Wood.
This viral campaign has even inspired a song in Spanish, expressing unwavering support for Payne, who recently marked his 50th appearance for New Zealand. Payne expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support from around the world, acknowledging the rapid and "crazy" growth of his online presence.
New Zealand, known as the All Whites, is participating in its third World Cup, having previously qualified in 1982 and 2010. The team has yet to secure a victory in the tournament and is drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Iran, and Egypt.
