{"id":35552,"date":"2026-06-05T03:56:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T03:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/05\/new-zealand-defender-tim-paine-meets-viral-argentine-influencer-valen-scarsini\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T03:56:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T03:56:37","slug":"new-zealand-defender-tim-paine-meets-viral-argentine-influencer-valen-scarsini","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/05\/new-zealand-defender-tim-paine-meets-viral-argentine-influencer-valen-scarsini\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand defender Tim Paine meets viral Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Tim Paine couldn’t wait to make offer to Valen Scarsini big hug<\/span> And please tell him a million thanks.<\/p>\n

In fact, it’s closer to 5 million. That means new followers on social media.<\/p>\n

New Zealand national team defenders compete Influencer and content creator from Argentina<\/span> Wednesday, after Scarsini – known as “El Scarso” asked his fans last week<\/span> To help build support for soccer’s standout player, calling him the “least known” player at the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, based on his small following on social media.<\/p>\n

Now, since that request, Payne, 32, has gone from just under 5,000 followers to more than 5 million on Instagram, becoming a viral sensation.<\/p>\n

Scarsini saw Payne’s work. New Zealand representative<\/span> The team known as the All Whites lost 4-0 to Haiti in a friendly game Tuesday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The next morning, the social media influencer met Payne at the team hotel in Boca Raton.<\/p>\n

“My friend!” exclaimed Scarsini, who walked through the door and saw Payne. “how are you?” <\/p>\n

“I’m okay, brother, how about you?” asked Payne, smiling as he gave her a big hug. “It’s nice to meet you.”<\/p>\n

Payne also said, “Como estas?” \u2014 “How are you doing?” in Spanish \u2014 and jokingly told Scarsini that’s basically his Spanish vocabulary.<\/p>\n

Payne thanked Scarsini “for everything” and described the entire experience as “pretty crazy.”<\/p>\n

“I didn’t know what to feel, because it was so foreign to me,” Payne said. “I’m still processing it, but it’s great. I appreciate you doing it for me.”<\/p>\n

Scarsini asked Payne what it was like to have such a huge rise in fame right before the World Cup starts.<\/p>\n

“It’s obviously good for myself and good for New Zealand football,” Payne said. “It shines a light on us. It’s a positive thing, but at the same time for me it doesn’t change who I am. I’m still me. I just keep doing what I have to do, which is play football and try to perform for my country.”<\/p>\n

Mr Scalsini said Mr Payne should visit Argentina at some point and was also planning on going to New Zealand at some point. Payne then handed him an All Whites jersey with the number 2 on it and signed it, then the two posed for a photo and hugged again.<\/p>\n

New Zealand will face Iran in their World Cup Group G opener on June 15 in Inglewood, California. Belgium and Egypt also join this group. New Zealand are playing in the World Cup for the third time after qualifying in 1982 and 2010, but are yet to win.<\/p>\n

\u2014-<\/p>\n

AP Sports Writer Steve McMorran in Wellington, New Zealand contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

\u2014-<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


\n
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