Social sensation Payne signs deal with Olimpia

New Zealand defender Tim Payne , who achieved viral fame after being singled out by a soccer influencer ahead of the World Cup, has confirmed he will play for Club Olimpia in Paraguay.

Payne's following on Instagram rocketed from 4,700 to 5.8 million after the influencer El Scarso, whose real name is Valen Scarsini, identified him as the World Cup player with the smallest social media following.

Sudden fame meant that clubs in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mexico showed interest in signing Payne.