New Zealand defender Tim Payne went from social media obscurity to viral fame this week, gaining nearly 5 million Instagram followers after Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini launched a campaign calling him the World Cup's most overlooked player. The pair met at Payne's team hotel in Boca Raton, where Scarsini greeted him with an enthusiastic hug and the two exchanged gifts.

Payne's follower count exploded from just under 5,000 to over 5 million following Scarsini's appeal to his audience. The 32-year-old defender thanked his new friend for the unexpected boost, calling the experience 'very crazy' while trying to process his sudden celebrity status. Payne admitted the attention was foreign to him but appreciated the spotlight on New Zealand football.

The meeting came after New Zealand's 4-0 friendly loss to Haiti in Fort Lauderdale, where Scarsini watched Payne's All Whites squad ahead of their Group G World Cup opener. New Zealand faces Iran on June 15 in Inglewood, California, alongside Belgium and Egypt in a challenging group.

Despite the massive social media following, Payne's focus remains on his football performance. New Zealand has never won a World Cup match since their debut in 1982, making this tournament crucial for breaking that drought.