New Zealand's Payne joins Paraguayan powerhouse after Instagram fame / Photo: Megan Briggs - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
-
Morning Roundup: Cycling Classic Returns as Cruise Port Opens and Plant Library Grows
-
Philadelphia Burlesque Show Honoured Tim Curry Weeks Before His Death
-
Cowbells Mark Return of Philadelphia Cycling Classic for Carpenter Family
-
Chinese Vehicle Exports Exceed Five Million in First Half of 2026
-
Apprenticeship Awards Name Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Finalists
-
NEOM Bath Foam Price Falls 45% in Limited Amazon Offer
-
£1m Dental Foundation Launches Mobile Care for Vulnerable People
-
Boots Last Note Range Adds Five £12.99 Eau de Parfums
-
Firebloom EP01 Delivers Fast Stone-Baked Pizza Indoors and Outdoors
-
£120 Autumn Throw Discounted to £35 in Seasonal Sale
-
Family-Run Cafe Opens Second Nottingham City Centre Location
-
Former Pleasure Island Site Proposed as Cleethorpes Holiday Resort
-
Aldi Sets Reduced Hours for August Bank Holiday
-
Nottingham Exhibition Replaces Gym Weights With Jesmonite Sculpture
-
UK Moves 2026 Boxing Day Bank Holiday to Monday
-
HMRC Revises Company-Car Fuel Rates From September 1
-
HMS Belfast Exhibition Revisits the Final Days Before D-Day
-
Slow Fire at Jermyn Street Theatre Examines Survival and Moral Choice
-
Barnum Musical Returns With Circus Spectacle
-
The Brown Suite Blends James Brown's Music With Street Dance
-
London Marathon Two-Day Plan Raises Questions Over 2027 Disruption
-
Southwark Council Error Leaves Vulnerable Woman Without Phone Service
-
Wormwood Scrubs Failings Found After Wife's Urgent Warning Went Unheeded
-
Former Surbiton Teacher Barred Indefinitely for Sexual Misconduct
-
London Kids' Open-Top Bus Tour Offers Family Alternative to the Tube
-
Fatal Sign Collapse Ends Big Church Festival Early
-
London Couple Cuts Annual Spending by £1,600 Without Giving Up Travel
-
Rapper Criticises Theresa May During All Points East Performance
-
Dubai Investor Explains Dh50,000 Monthly Draw and Long-Term Strategy
-
Baladi App Turns Lebanon's Broken Infrastructure Into a Public Map
-
Oil Traders Weigh Iran War Risk Against Diplomatic Signals
-
Netflix Series Reconstructs Mica Miller's Life and Death
-
US Cancels Taif Sami Mohammed's Visa and Adds Her to Watchlist
-
Vijay Orders More Rehabilitation Opportunities During Puzhal Prison Visit
-
Tamil Nadu Assembly Clash Continues Over 10.5% Vanniyar Reservation
-
Suitcase Murder Suspect Captured in Manipur
-
Chennai Police Arrest Mother and Daughter Over ₹40 Lakh Chit Fund Case
-
Chennai Waste Debate Pits Worker Demands Against Dumping Complaints
-
PSBB K.K. Nagar Pair Wins Madras Quiz
-
Athiya Agarwal Reflects on the Culture and Community of Chennai
-
Chennai Hospital Opens Upgraded Holistic Wellness Facility
-
Ammunition Found in Woman's Cabin Bag at Chennai Airport
-
Okinawan Festival Returns With Revised Convention Center Format
-
Anthony Arceneaux Outlines Hawaiʻi Offense Before 2026 Season
-
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Ruling Removes Waters From Council Contest
-
Muse Honolulu Site Moves Toward October Demolition Preparations
-
Consolidated Theatres Launches Hawaiʻi-Made Film Series in September
-
State Seeks Tips After Vandalism at Maui High Restroom Project
-
Iceland votes on whether to resume EU membership talks
-
Heavy gunfire rocks Niger capital, state TV signal cut
New Zealand's Payne joins Paraguayan powerhouse after Instagram fame
New Zealand's World Cup social media sensation Tim Payne has capitalised on his newfound fame, with the defender announcing on Friday that he has signed for Paraguayan powerhouse Club Olimpia.
His current club, Wellington Phoenix, confirmed his sale to the 48-time champions of Paraguay for an undisclosed fee.
The versatile 32-year-old shot to social media stardom in the lead-up to the World Cup after Argentinian influencer El Scarso sought to boost the following of the tournament's "least followed" player.
Payne's Instagram following grew from just 4,000 to more than five million in the space of a week, and now sits just shy of six million.
"This wasn't an easy decision," Payne said in a post on Friday.
"Seven years at Wellington Phoenix. 149 games. To the fans, my teammates, and all those who have supported me throughout my career, the highs and the lows, thank you.
"To test myself at the very top of South American football, the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, is one of the most incredible opportunities I could have asked for as a professional."
El Scarso, whose real name is Valen Scarsini, was among the first to comment, saying: "Best of luck brother."
Payne started New Zealand's first match of the World Cup, a 2-2 draw with Iran in Los Angeles.
New Zealand next play Egypt and Belgium in Group G.
L.Durand--AMWN
