Australian defender kai trewin soars to 1m followers on instagram after world cup 'cristiano ronaldo' challenge

Aussie footballer Kai Trewin has become the latest World Cup sensation overnight, racking up 1 million new Instagram followers after a social media challenge dubbed him the 'Cristiano Ronaldo of the World Cup'.

Low-profile player trewin seizes spotlight

The 25-year-old Socceroos defender was previously unknown to most, boasting a mere 3,000 followers before the campaign kicked off. However, a challenge launched by football content creator RubikayTV has catapulted Trewin to global stardom.

Claiming Trewin as the 'least-known' World Cup player, RubikayTV urged their 450,000 followers to back the Australian wingback. Their challenge: make Trewin the tournament's breakout star.

With his inclusion in Australia's 26-man World Cup squad, Trewin is now poised to face the world's top teams, having already faced legendary players like Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller in the MLS.

Meanwhile, New Zealand defender Tim Payne, initially identified as the 'least-followed' player, has seen his Instagram following skyrocket to 4.6 million after 'El Scarso', a prominent South American influencer, brought him to global attention.

Despite his newfound fame, Payne has remained grounded, posting just three times since the challenge, including a heartfelt thank you to his fans.