How El Scarso Turned NZ World Cup Star Tim Payne Into an Instagram Sensation

Tim Payne, a defender for the New Zealand national football team, has met with Valen Scarsini, the Argentine influencer credited with transforming the athlete’s social media presence into a viral phenomenon.

The meeting brings together the All Whites player and the man known as El Scarso, whose online activity sparked an unprecedented surge in visibility for the New Zealand international.

According to reporting from The Guardian, the impact of Scarsini’s influence resulted in Payne’s Instagram following growing from 5,000 followers to more than one million.

The interaction between the two was highlighted by the NZ Herald, which noted the friendly nature of the meeting with the phrase My friend!

The connection between the Argentine influencer and the New Zealand defender has evolved beyond digital interactions. The Post reports that Valen Scarsini is flying in to watch the All Whites compete in a match against Haiti.

Payne, a World Cup player for New Zealand, has seen his profile expand significantly outside of his sporting achievements on the pitch due to the social media momentum generated by Scarsini.