[Saba Sports News] According to ESPN, New Zealand international Tim Payne, who was little-known before, has seen his social media followers soar past New Zealand’s total population thanks to promotion by an Argentine internet celebrity.
Ahead of the World Cup, Argentine influencer El Scarso set out to find the tournament’s most obscure player and help him gain fame, eventually picking Tim Payne. Payne previously played for EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers and now turns out for Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand. He had merely around 4,700 followers on social media at that time.
El Scarso then called on people to set aside national boundaries and follow Payne. He also created chants and highlight compilations for the player. Thanks to his efforts, Payne’s follower count has hit 5.4 million, surpassing New Zealand’s population of 5.3 million.
In my view, this has turned into an unexpected global online sensation, a unique phenomenon driven by the power of social media and shared sporting passion. Gaining over five million followers from just a few thousand in less than a month is only possible in this interconnected social media era. For the New Zealand national team, it is a pleasant surprise and free publicity.