Tim Payne is a New Zealand football, born on January 10, 1994, in Auckland, New Zealand. He mainly plays as a defender on the right side (right-back). He plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Men and for New Zealand’s national team, the All Whites.
Career Summary
- Wellingtone Phoenix (2019-present): He joined the team before the 2019 season and became only the seventh player in the club’s history to play 150 A-League games. In the 2024–25 season he played 20 matches, scoring 3 goals and setting up 19 assists.
- Auckland City FC (2014-15): Won the 2014 OFC President’s Cup and helped the club reach the semifinals of the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup (bronze medal).
- Eastern Suburbs AFC (2016-19): 51 appearances
- Portland Timbers 2 (2015-16): 23 appearances
- Earlier: He tried out for and signed with Blackburn Rovers (a Premier League club) in 2012, then later went back to New Zealand.
International Career (All Whites)
He debuted in 2012, he has 48+ caps, 3 goals for New Zealand
Represented New Zealand at:
2012 London Olympics
2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Under-20 World Cup
He helped New Zealand to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Recent Stats (2024-25 & 2025-26 A-League)
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2024-25 | 20 | 3 | 19 |
| 2025-26 | 14 | 0 | 4-5 |
Why he suddenly become famous?
In late May 2026, Tim Payne’s Instagram followers jumped from under 5,000 to more than 1.2 million almost overnight, making him a surprising viral star in football.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup Journey (2006-2022): Records, Goals & Legacy
Before this viral moment, Payne was just known as an experienced, flexible defender who could play right-back, centre-back, and defensive midfield. Now he is the most-followed football figure in New Zealand’s history, even more followed than the national team captain,
Chris Wood.