Motherwell's Elijah Just is the Cinderella story of the World Cup - a fairytale that's been unfolding at breakneck speed. Two seasons ago, he was plying his trade in Austria's second tier; now, he's rewriting history as New Zealand's all-time leading scorer at the finals. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder sent shockwaves around Los Angeles with two pivotal goals against Iran, securing a thrilling 2-2 draw for his country.
Just's double marked not only a milestone moment in his career but also made him the first Motherwell player to ever score at a World Cup. And what a way to do it - etching his name into the record books as New Zealand's top scorer, a feat he hailed as 'incredible' and 'a memory that'll last me for the rest of my life'. This international heroics follows an incredible season in the Scottish Premiership where he was voted into the PFA Scotland Team of the Season and shortlisted for Player of the Year.
It's been a meteoric rise to stardom, particularly given Just's previous struggles. When he arrived at Motherwell last summer from Horsens, few saw it coming. He'd had just one season of top-flight football since leaving New Zealand in 2019, with the campaign before that spent on loan at SKN St Polten in Austria's second division. But under manager Jens Berthel Askou's evolving tactical approach, Just flourished. Praise has poured in from fellow Scot Scott Allan, who lauded him as a 'pure footballer', highlighting his awareness, ability in tight areas, and creativity.
Just's impressive stats back up the plaudits, ranking highly among attacking midfielders for combined goals and assists, shots on target, big chances created, successful dribbles, tackles, recoveries, and interceptions. His club form has been nothing short of phenomenal, now amplified by his World Cup heroics - inevitably sparking transfer speculation.
Celtic and Rangers are reportedly among the clubs sniffing around, although Just has made it clear he'll stay focused on his World Cup commitments before addressing any transfer talks. BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton suggests Motherwell could 'add a couple of zeros' to his price tag - just one more reason why Just's story is being savoured by football fans everywhere.