World Cup’s ‘least-known’ footballer gains 1.5m followers overnight after viral stunt

New Zealand defender Tim Payne (Picture: Getty)

New Zealand footballer Tim Payne has become an overnight viral sensation after a social media stunt from a South American influencer sought to find the World Cup’s ‘least-known’ player.

Payne, a defender for A-League side Wellington Phoenix, has seen his Instagram account grow from fewer than 5,000 to 1.7million and counting by Friday afternoon thanks to the work of Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini.

Scarsini, known online as ‘elscarso’, shared a video encouraging his fans to follow and promote Payne’s account to gro...