Elijah Just of New Zealand and Saeid Ezatolahi of IR Iran compete for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match at Los Angeles Stadium on Tuesday.
He has been repeatedly written off as too small and skinny, but Elijah Just has now emerged as a World Cup star after his two clinical goals made New Zealand football history.
The 26-year-old combined to deadly effect with striker Chris Wood in Monday's lively 2-2 draw with Iran in Los Angeles.
Just gave New Zealand — who came into the tournament as the lowest-ranked team — a surprise lead after seven minutes.
Skipper and Nottingham Forest forward Wood teed him up, and Just transferred the ball neatly from his left foot to his right, before smashing it past goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
