Tim Payne went from being one of the least-known footballers at the 2026 World Cup to becoming an internet celebrity in a matter of days. It all began when an Argentine influencer proposed making the player with the fewest followers in the tournament famous, and thousands of people joined the campaign. In just a few days, the New Zealand defender amassed millions of followers on social media.
With the sudden fame also came curiosity about his personal life. Many fans began looking through his old posts and soon discovered Michelle Peters, his wife, a professional photographer specializing in weddings who lives in Wellington and had always kept a fairly low profile on social media.
The experiment was an unexpected success. The New Zealand defender went from having just a few thousand followers to amassing millions, becoming one of the most talked-about names on social media even before making his World Cup debut.