Scarsini posted a single video asking the internet to rally behind one player regardless of nationality.

The idea spread far beyond Argentina, picked up by major Spanish-speaking creators covered by BBC, 433, FIFA, The Guardian, CTV News, Los Angeles Times, ESPN, Buenos Aires Times, The Athletic, and many others. Payne's following went from under 5,000 to more than four million in days, at one point growing by roughly a thousand per minute, surpassing the All Blacks, Kane Williamson, and All Whites captain Chris Wood.

Payne reached out privately, confused by the surge. That DM became a public thank you video. That video set up a real-life meeting in Florida, where Scarsini flew across the world to watch New Zealand play and finally shake the hand of the man he had made famous.

Then Scarso called on McDonald's to put Tim Payne on the Legends Cup. The comments piled in until McDonald's said deal, and a defender from Auckland got his own custom cup alongside Messi, Beckham, and Ronaldinho. A one-off that never went on sale, but the point was already made.

A defender from Auckland. A creator with a wild idea. The internet doing what it does best.