Tim Payne Debut Shirt Auction Tops 21 Million Guarani After 5-0 Olimpia Win

Tim Payne scored minutes after coming off the bench in his Aug. 2 debut for Club Olimpia, a 5-0 victory that has now sparked a $3,270 bidding war for his match-worn jersey.

Tim Payne scored minutes after entering as a substitute during his August 2 debut for Club Olimpia, securing a 5-0 victory against Asunción-based club Rubio Ñu. The 32-year-old defender’s match-worn, signed jersey has since reached a leading bid of 21 million Paraguayan guarani, approximately $3,270, in an online auction launched five days ago. Bidding for the memorabilia is scheduled to conclude this Thursday, marking a significant financial milestone for the New Zealand international who recently joined the Paraguayan national champions on a one-year contract in June.

Prior to this high-profile move, Payne concluded a seven-year tenure with the Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League. His professional history includes a two-year stint with Blackburn Rovers in England, though work-permit complications prevented him from making a major appearance for the club. The defender spent the majority of his career competing for low-profile teams across New Zealand and Australia before his recent rise to prominence on the global stage.

The El Scarso Social Media Surge

Payne’s transition from an overlooked player to a viral sensation began when Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini, known as "El Scarso," identified him as the "least-known soccer player" at the World Cup. At the start of this campaign, Payne’s Instagram account recorded just 4,715 followers. Scarsini mobilized his audience of over 2 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to flood Payne’s profile with supportive interactions and mentions.

This digital movement resulted in Payne’s social media following skyrocketing to over 5.4 million users. This figure exceeds the total population of New Zealand, his home nation. Before the World Cup began, the defender possessed just over 4,000 followers, illustrating a massive shift in his public profile that preceded his signing with the Paraguayan powerhouse.

Auction Details and Club Olimpia Debut

The auction for the debut shirt was launched via a video in which Payne expressed his desire to see the garment go to a "true Olimpista." He stated in the footage that he understands the significance of wearing the club's stripes. While the current $3,270 valuation is substantial, it remains significantly lower than the record-breaking millions paid for match-worn kits belonging to stars like Lionel Messi.

Club Olimpia, recognized as a powerhouse in South American soccer, put the jersey up for bidding following the dominant five-goal performance against Rubio Ñu. Payne’s immediate impact on the pitch, scoring shortly after his introduction from the bench, solidified his status among the fans who had previously only known him through social media trends.

Professional Background and Career Shift

The veteran defender’s move to South America represents a drastic change from his previous decade of play. Having spent the bulk of his career in the Oceania and Asian confederation leagues, the one-year deal with Olimpia serves as his first major contract in the Americas. His arrival in June followed years of relative obscurity in the A-League, where he was a staple for the Wellington Phoenix before the influencer-led campaign transformed his marketability. The current bidding war serves as the latest metric of his unlikely ascent in the international soccer landscape.