Scottish Premiership star makes World Cup history as Celtic legend's all-time record matched

Celtic legend Henrik Larsson has held the record on his own since the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea where his three goals for Sweden put him top of the standings.

Larsson scored twice against Nigeria in the group stage and once against Senegal in the round of 16 to add to his strike in the 1998 World Cup bronze medal match against Bulgaria, while he was at Feyenoord.

He made it five goals for Sweden at World Cups overall when he netted against England in 2006 in South Africa during a summer when he moved from Barcelona back to hometown club, Helsingborgs IF.

Now joining Larsson on three World Cup goals while based in Scotland is Motherwell attacker Elijah Just.

The 26-year netted his third goal in three matches for New Zealand at the 2026 tournament in the 5-1 defeat by Belgium in the early hours on Saturday morning at BC Place Vancouver.

Just controlled a partially cleared corner at the edge of the Belgium box before rifling a volley into the roof of the net from 16 yards to reduce the deficit to 3-1 in the 86th minute as New Zealand were officially eliminated from the tournament.

It was the latest eye-catching strike from the PFA Scotland Player of the Year nominee after his classy double in the 2-2 draw with Iran in his country's opening fixture.

Just, who has been linked a possible transfer to Celtic and Rangers, has a year remaining on his Fir Park contract but is likely to attract further suitors following his impressive World Cup exploits.

His value will have also risen with any departure this window now tipped to break Motherwell's all-time record for a player sale for the second successive summer after midfielder Lennon Miller joined Udinese for £4.6million last August.

Just enjoyed a breakout season for Motherwell after signing from Danish club AC Horsens, scoring seven times and providing eight assists as the Steelmen qualified for Europe with a fourth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership.

Elsewhere, Thelo Aasgaard became the first Rangers player to score at a World Cup since Brian Laudrup in 1998 when he netted Norway’s consolation goal in the 4-1 defeat by France on Friday night.

Daizen Maeda meanwhile became the first Celtic player to score at a World Cup since himself in 2022 - and the only player to do it at two World Cups while playing in Scotland - after he netted for Japan in the 1-1 draw with Sweden on Thursday.

Celtic defender Auston Trusty also added his name to the list of Scottish-based players to score at a World Cup when he found the net for USA in the 3-2 defeat by Turkey on Thursday.

The six goals scored by Scottish club players at the 2026 tournament is the most in World Cup history.

Most World Cup goals scored by Scottish club players:

3 - Henrik Larsson, Celtic and Sweden (2002 - 2 v Nigeria, 1 v Senegal)

3 - Elijah Just, Motherwell and New Zealand (2026 - 2 v Iran, 1 v Belgium)

2 - Daizen Maeda, Celtic and Japan (2026 v Sweden, 2022 v Croatia)

2 - Brian Laudrup, Rangers and Denmark (1998 v Nigeria and Brazil)

1 - Thelo Aasgaard, Rangers and Denmark (2026 v France)

1 - Auston Trusty, Celtic and USA (2026 v Turkey)

1 - Georgios Samaras, Celtic and Greece (2014 v Ivory Coast)

1 - Shunsuke Nakamura, Celtic and Japan (2006 v Australia)

1 - Marc Rieper, Celtic and Denmark (1998 v Saudi Arabia)

1 - Craig Burley, Celtic and Scotland (1998 v Norway)

1 - Mo Johnston, Rangers and Scotland (1990 v Sweden)

1 - David Narey, Dundee United and Scotland (1982 v Brazil)

1 - Jimmy Murray, Hearts and Scotland (1958 v Yugoslavia)

1 - Bobby Collins, Celtic and Scotland (1958 v Paraguay)

1 - Sammy Baird, Rangers and Scotland (1958 v France)