A New Zealand footballer has personally thanked the social media influencer credited with his explosive rise in Instagram followers. Tim Payne met with Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini, widely known as “El Scarso,” on Wednesday, presenting him with a team jersey.
The unprecedented surge in Payne’s online popularity occurred after Scarsini, a prominent figure on social media, urged his own massive fanbase to support the relatively unknown footballer. Scarsini had referred to Payne as the “least known” player participating in the World Cup, sparking an online phenomenon that saw Payne’s follower count skyrocket from approximately 4,000 to nearly five million within a matter of days.
A First-Time Meeting and Gratitude
The two men met for the first time at New Zealand’s training facility in Florida. Payne expressed his appreciation for Scarsini’s unexpected endorsement, acknowledging its benefits for both his personal profile and the broader landscape of New Zealand football.
“It’s obviously good for myself and New Zealand football too,” Payne stated. “It puts a light on us which is a positive thing but at the same time, for me, I don’t change. I’m still the person I am, so I just keep trying to do what I do, which is play football and focus on trying to perform for my country.”
When questioned by the defender, who plays for Wellington Phoenix, about the motivation behind Scarsini’s appeal, the influencer reportedly responded with a simple directive: “Fly to Argentina!”
Record-Breaking Following
Payne’s Instagram account has now surpassed the follower count of New Zealand’s iconic rugby team, the All Blacks, who have approximately 2.8 million followers, a significant achievement in a nation passionate about rugby.
Pre-World Cup Preparations
Scarsini traveled to Florida to support Payne and the New Zealand team during a pre-World Cup friendly match played at Inter Miami’s stadium on Tuesday. The team faced Haiti, another World Cup qualifier, and was defeated 4-0.
New Zealand is scheduled to play their final friendly match against England on Saturday before the World Cup commences. Their group stage opponents in the tournament will be Iran, Egypt, and Belgium in Group G.
