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Tim Payne’s fame puts New Zealand squad in World Cup spotlight
Updated June 21, 2026, 9:04 p.m. ET
VANCOUVER — From total unknown before the World Cup to rivaling America’s brightest stars, the legend of Tim Payne continues to grow, and New Zealand players love it.
“I think it’s great for [Payne] personally, great for us as a team as well,” New Zealand forward Chris Wood said of his teammate’s social media fame. “I think it brings more eyes to us, which is only going to help us.”
Most soccer fans have likely heard of the New Zealand starting defender, something that would have been insane to say a few months ago. In late May, Argentine content creator Valen Scarsini dubbed Payne the “least-known player in the World Cup,” challenging fans to change that title.
The fans listened.
As of publication, the viral sensation sits at 5.9 million Instagram followers, ballooning from fewer than 5,000 before the call to action. This is a huge number, but let’s put things into perspective.
Of the U.S. men’s national team roster, only captain Christian Pulisic (7.6M) has more followers. The next closest, Sergiño Dest at 1.7M, doesn’t sniff the following of the 32-year-old Payne.
Even beyond soccer, Payne has the faces of American sports on the ropes.
Looking at the NBA, a league iconic for athletes with large social media followings, Payne would be in the top 25, ahead of Finals MVP Jalen Brunson (1.9M), back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5M) and flashy Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards (5.4M).
Payne’s dominance of other major sports leagues are even more mind-blowing. Only three active NFL players have more followers than Payne: Odell Beckham Jr. (16.5M), Travis Kelce (7.7M) and Patrick Mahomes (6.4M). Just the MLB’s Shohei Ohtani (10.8M) has more. And Payne tops the list of active NHL players with ease.
To put it simply: One social media post did for Payne what the vast majority of active American athletes couldn’t do for themselves. And perhaps a coincidence, Payne just signed with Paraguayan club Olympia. Both his following and new club speak to the impact an event with the global reach of the World Cup can truly provide.
How is New Zealand responding to this newfound spotlight on their team? Coming into the World Cup as FIFA’s lowest-ranked entrant, hardly anyone was talking about them; hence why a player from their squad was picked for Scarsini’s “honor.” So the players welcome the attention, feeling like other countries’ fanbases are backing the All Whites.
“People might be looking out for a second team to support,” Wood said. “The more supporters we have, the more love you feel, and then the better you play in that sense.”
Payne played 77 minutes in New Zealand’s 2-2 draw versus Iran in their 2026 World Cup opener, arguably the most important of his career. With all four nations in Group G knotted at one point, New Zealand has a realistic chance at the knockout round with even a draw to Egypt in Vancouver.
Even if Payne’s team goes down, his follower count likely will continue doing the opposite.
Jack Cooney is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
