Sawt Falasteen - New Zealand's Payne joins Paraguayan powerhouse after Instagram fame

His current club, Wellington Phoenix, confirmed his sale to the 48-time champions of Paraguay for an undisclosed fee.

The versatile 32-year-old shot to social media stardom in the lead-up to the World Cup after Argentinian influencer El Scarso sought to boost the following of the tournament's "least followed" player.

Payne's Instagram following grew from just 4,000 to more than five million in the space of a week, and now sits just shy of six million.

"This wasn't an easy decision," Payne said in a post on Friday.

"Seven years at Wellington Phoenix. 149 games. To the fans, my teammates, and all those who have supported me throughout my career, the highs and the lows, thank you.

"To test myself at the very top of South American football, the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, is one of the most incredible opportunities I could have asked for as a professional."

El Scarso, whose real name is Valen Scarsini, was among the first to comment, saying: "Best of luck brother."

Payne started New Zealand's first match of the World Cup, a 2-2 draw with Iran in Los Angeles.

New Zealand next play Egypt and Belgium in Group G.

E.Aziz--SF-PST