![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4KR1X2W_240427PhoenixMacarthur__034_jpg.jpeg\")
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\nTim Payne celebrates after scoring a goal for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
\nPhoto: Photosport\n<\/p>\n
A World Cup-bound All Whites footballer’s Instagram profile is growing at an incredible rate, following an Argentinian influencer’s call to make something of what he called the World Cup’s “least-known player”.<\/p>\n
Valen Scarsini claimed after analysing all the players in each squad, that New Zealander Tim Payne’s 4700-strong Instagram count needed a boost.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Spanish to his millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram, Scarsini urged them to make Payne a World Cup hero.<\/p>\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4JNVTIU_IMG_1779_PNG.jpeg\")
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\nNew Zealand footballer Tim Payne’s Instagram has exploded in popularity.
\nPhoto: Instagram\n<\/p>\n
“Tim Payne is a defender and has a very difficult task: help New Zealand win their first World Cup match. They have never won one.<\/p>\n
“Explode his posts with likes and comments. We need to start naming Tim Payne everywhere.<\/p>\n
“You have to make videos feeding the legend of Tim Payne. If you have the World Cup album, upload a photo with your sticker.”<\/p>\n
Scarsini’s call has seen Payne’s Instagram profile amass followers at an alarming rate. Early Friday morning, Payne’s follower count was rising at 1000 a minute, and was on track to break the 1 million mark that day.<\/p>\n
Payne’s last post was in March, when he played his 50th game for New Zealand in a FIFA World Series match. The post has now been viewed more than 500,000 times and attracted nearly 70,000 comments.<\/p>\n
![\"Chile\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4JNVU29_AFP__20260330__PS_1140735__v1__HighRes__NuevaZelandaVsChileAmistosoEnNuevaZelanda202_jpg.jpeg\")
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\nNew Zealand’s Tim Payne (R) during New Zealand vs Chile, FIFA Series Tournament at Eden Park, Auckland, 2026: Photosport via AFP.
\nPhoto: WWW.PHOTOSPORT.CL\n<\/p>\n
Scarsini has since revealed that Payne has been in touch to thank him.<\/p>\n
“Was wondering why my socials were blowing up and found your post, man,” wrote Payne. “Appreciate the love! Gracias, hermano.”<\/p>\n