Tim Payne gains viral fame ahead of World Cup, coach comments

New Zealand defender Tim Payne has seen his Instagram following surge from 4,715 to 4.2 million in less than a week. This influx is attributed to an Argentine influencer who dubbed him the least-known player at the World Cup and rallied support from his followers. New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley expressed his admiration for how Payne is managing the sudden attention, acknowledging his teammate's focus on the tournament. Midfielder Marko Stamenic backed Payne, stating that he is unlikely to let the fame affect him. Scarsini, the influencer behind the attention, is expected to meet Payne following the All Whites' upcoming friendly against Haiti.

• 4:16 AMYahoo Sports — Soccer-New Zealand's Payne handling viral social media fame well, says bewildered coach