New Zealand defender Tim Payne has become an unlikely superstar after an influencer from Argentina called on his followers to unite and make the little-known 32-year-old Payne a “hero” of the upcoming World Cup.
El Scarso, a football influencer also known as Valen Scarsini, identified Payne as the least-known player at the World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico based on his small social media following.