Who is Elijah Just? Meet New Zealand's hero at World Cup

Who is Elijah Just? Meet New Zealand's hero at World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For New Zealand to overcome the doubters at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, someone needed to step up to the plate.

Elijah Just is apparently the guy who wants to prove New Zealand belongs.

Just opened the scoring for New Zealand in the seventh minute on Monday night against Iran.

Then early in the second half, Just scored a second goal.

New Zealand's well-known goal scorer is Chris Wood, but on this night, Just did the finishing.

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Just is a 26-year old winger representing New Zealand at the 2026 World Cup.

He began his club career in New Zealand with Western Suburbs and then Eastern Suburbs.

From there, he went to the Danish second division to play for Helsingor.

He moved up to the first division in Denmark to play for Horsens.

He played a loan season with SKN St. Polten in Austria.

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Before the 2025-26 season, he moved to Motherwell in Scotland, and he scored seven goals in his first season.

Just was making his 45th appearance with New Zealand on Monday night, and the two goals gave him 11 in his international career.

It's a night he'll never forget.

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