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Argentine Influencer Sends NZ Defender's Followers to 1 Million

5/29/2026

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini (elscarso) urged fans to like, comment and follow New Zealand defender Tim Payne, calling him the World Cup’s least-known player.
After the call, Payne’s Instagram followers jumped from about 4,000 to over one million, making him New Zealand’s top football account.
The 32-year-old Wellington Phoenix defender will join New Zealand’s World Cup squad for Group G matches in Los Angeles starting 15 June.

History

Historical Context

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil drew over 1 billion global viewers, demonstrating the tournament’s massive reach. Leveraging that exposure, Brazil’s defender David Luiz saw his online profile explode after scoring the decisive goal, while Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini later helped New Zealand defender Tim Payne gain a massive Instagram following ahead of the 2024 World Cup in Los Angeles.

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Story summary

Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini (elscarso) urged fans to like, comment and follow New Zealand defender Tim Payne, calling him the World Cup’s least-known player.
After the call, Payne’s Instagram followers jumped from about 4,000 to over one million, making him New Zealand’s top football account.
The 32-year-old Wellington Phoenix defender will join New Zealand’s World Cup squad for Group G matches in Los Angeles starting 15 June.

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