Just’s rise from Austrian second tier to World Cup breakout star

Just’s rise from Austrian second tier to World Cup breakout starFigure caption, ‘Sensational’ – Motherwell’s Just scores World Cup double for New ZealandByNick McPheat, BBC Sport Scotland and George O’Neill, BBC Sport ScotlandPublished28 April 2026Updated 50 minutes agoThere was a brief moment during Elijah Just’s first Motherwell start that only intensified the doubt among an unconvinced home support at Fir Park.Built with a diminutive physique that can see players written off quickly in Scottish football, he went in for a shoulder challenge against a hardy Peterhead midfielder.Boing. The little New Zealander bounced off the part-time player from the third-tier side as top-flight Motherwell attempted to fight back from a goal down.Those early feelings that much of the Motherwell fanbase shared about the 26-year-old mirrored the wider anxiety about whether the brand of football manager Jens Berthel Askou was trying to implement could work in Scotland.Less than a year later, the Danish coach has jumped to Toulouse in Ligue 1, while Just is scoring on football’s grandest stage after a standout season at club level.BBC Scotland charts a rapid rise that has taken the attacking midfielder from second-division football to World Cup breakout star.Just scores twice but New Zealand held by Iran