It is a rags-to-riches story that could only unfold in the age of social media virality: just half a year ago, Tim Payne, a 32-year-old defender, was a name almost unrecognizable to soccer fans beyond the small circles of New Zealand and Australian domestic soccer. Today, fans across the globe are bidding thousands of dollars just to own the match-worn jersey from his first professional appearance for one of South America’s most prestigious clubs.
The story of Payne’s unexpected leap into the global spotlight begins at the 2022 World Cup, where the little-known New Zealand international caught the attention of Argentine soccer influencer Valen Scarsini, who goes by the online handle El Scarso. Scarsini launched a viral social media campaign to spotlight what he called the tournament’s “most under-the-radar player,” settling on Payne after discovering the defender had barely 4,700 followers on Instagram at the time. Scarsini urged his combined 2 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to follow Payne, leave supportive messages on his posts, and spread his name across soccer communities worldwide.
The campaign sparked an explosive surge in Payne’s online fame: within days, his follower count skyrocketed past 5.4 million — a figure larger than the entire population of his home country New Zealand. This unprecedented viral attention changed the trajectory of Payne’s career, which had long flown under the mainstream radar. For most of his professional journey, Payne plied his trade at low-profile clubs across New Zealand and Australia. He even spent two seasons with England’s Blackburn Rovers early in his career, but work permit complications prevented him from ever making a senior competitive appearance for the club. He spent seven years with the Wellington Phoenix in Australia’s A-League before the viral wave carried him to a surprise move this June: a one-year contract with Club Olimpia, the reigning Paraguayan top-flight champions and one of the South America’s most storied soccer powerhouses.
Payne rewarded his new legion of global fans with a dream debut on August 2, when he came off the bench against Paraguayan side Rubio Ñu and found the back of the net just minutes after entering the pitch, helping Olimpia secure a dominant 5-0 victory. Now, the signed jersey Payne wore during that historic debut has been put up for online auction by the club, and it has quickly become one of the most sought-after pieces of modern soccer memorabilia five days after listings opened.
With bidding set to close on Thursday, the top offer has already climbed past 21 million Paraguayan guarani, equal to roughly $3,270. While this sum is nowhere near the seven-figure prices that memorabilia from global superstars like Lionel Messi regularly fetch at auction, the level of interest in a debut jersey from a previously unknown player underscores just how far Payne has come in a matter of months.
In a promotional video launching the auction, Payne emphasized his commitment to connecting with the club’s loyal fanbase. “I know exactly what it means to wear these stripes and play in this shirt, and that’s why I want to give it to a true Olimpista (Olimpia fan),” he said. The auction is the latest chapter in one of the most unlikely rise stories in modern soccer, proving that social media virality can reshape careers even for players who spent decades out of the global spotlight.