<p>Payne's follower count on Instagram ballooned from 4,000 last week to nearly 5 million after Argentinian influencer Valen Scarsini, known as "<em>El Scarso</em>", called for his fans to boost the unheralded All Whites defender's following.</p><p>The two met for the first time at New Zealand's training camp in Florida onWednesday, with Payne thanking El Scarso for his support and gifting him with a signed playing top.</p><p>"<strong>It's obviously good for myself and New Zealand football too</strong>," Payne said.</p><p>"It puts a light on us which is a positive thing but at the same time, for me, I don't change.</p><p>"<strong>I'm still the person I am, so I just keep trying to do what I do which is play football and focus on trying to perform for my country.</strong>"</p><p>Payne's Instagram account now has more followers than any other New Zealand sporting account, other than UFC star Israel Adesanya's 8.2 million following.</p><p>He has surpassed cricketer Kane Williamson on 3.3 million and the All Blacks rugby team on 2.8 million.</p><p>On the field things are going less well for the New Zealand team, who suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Haiti in a World Cup warm-up on Wednesday.</p><p>They play England on Sunday in their final friendly before the World Cup begins.</p><p>New Zealand plays Iran, Egypt and Belgium in their World Cup pool.</p>