Elijah Just scored his third goal in three World Cup games as New Zealand bowed out with a heavy defeat to Belgium.
The midfielder, widely reported to be a target for Celtic this summer, has made Scottish football history in doing so.
He has become just the second player to ever score three World Cup goals while playing for a Scottish club… after Henrik Larsson.
Quite the achievement for a guy was picked up by Motherwell for a minimal fee less than a year ago.
😳 Just the second after Henrik Larsson!
Incredible stuff from the Celtic target at the World Cup…
Celtic target Elijah Just scores for New Zealand in Belgium defeat
It was a bittersweet moment for Just as he clawed the score back to 3-1 with less than ten minutes to play.
It was, however, a stunning finish from the edge of the box.
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Salt was rubbed firmly into the All Whites’ wounds when Belgium added another two before the end, confirming their status as group winners.
In the tournament’s opening match, a stunning brace from Just brought NZ within touching distance of the three points against Iran.
Only five players at the tournament have more than Just’s total of three goals.
Those players are: Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, Vinicius Junior, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. No shame and that.
Celtic and Rangers are both reportedly chasing Just this summer, making a Fir Park exit seem likely.
Just admitted that talk of interest from Celtic has been ‘nice to hear’ ahead of the tournament.
He has been much spoken about in Glasgow after he was nominated for Scottish PFA Player of the Year for a stellar season.
🤔 Have Celtic missed the boat for Elijah Just?
New Zealand boss Darren Bazeley on Celtic target Elijah Just
Speaking after the Iran game, NZ boss Bazeley said: “I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s played really well for the All-Whites, scored goals and had great performances.
“This year — and again, people probably don’t know — he’s playing in Scotland for Motherwell, and he’s had an outstanding year.
“He’s scored goals, got Player of the Season, almost got Player of the [Scottish Premiership], made team of the year… so he’s had an outstanding season in Scotland.
“And he brought that with him. He brought that today and showed the world how dangerous he can be.
“He is slight-built, but he gets into pockets, gets turned, and he’s quick. He’s great with the ball, very intelligent, links with [Chris Wood] really well, like the goal.
“I think a lot of people are probably watching that today and saying: ‘He’s a very good player, he’s building his career and this is probably going to help him a lot.”
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