The 26-year-old Motherwell forward struck in the seventh minute and again in the 54th, both goals set up by captain Chris Wood, only for Iran to fight back twice through Ramin Rezaeian and a Mohammad Mohebbi header to deny New Zealand their first-ever World Cup win.
Speaking after the match, Just could barely contain his emotion at the scale of what he had achieved.
"It's really special. We had a lot of goals coming in and the first was to get on the board, so one point is ok and there are a lot of positives to build on."
"Scoring once is something that I couldn't have dreamed of and two is just amazing."
New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley was equally proud despite the missed opportunity for victory.
"I am extremely proud of the players and performance. Really good in possession, created a lot. We've come off disappointed not to win. We scored two really good goals and it's going to hurt because we had a chance to make history."
"I am so proud though," Bazeley added.
Born in Palmerston North and of Chinese descent through his mother, Just made his All Whites debut at just 19 in a friendly against Ireland, and has since gone on to earn 40 caps for his country.
Standing at just 1.70 metres, the slightly built forward has built his reputation on quick feet, intelligent movement and an ability to thrive in tight spaces, often deployed on the right wing or in an advanced midfield role.
Motherwell captain Paul McGinn has been among those to praise his teammate's footballing brain.
"He's so sharp. He's such a clever footballer. He knows where to be and when to be there."
Just signed for Motherwell from Danish side AC Horsens last year, a move he later described as an important step toward earning his World Cup selection.
The decision paid off handsomely. He was named Motherwell's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, while also being nominated for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year and selected in the PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year.
That form has not gone unnoticed beyond Fir Park. Both Celtic and Rangers have been credited with interest in the forward, with the Scottish Sun reporting that Motherwell will accept significant offers for their star players this summer, including Just, who remains under contract until 2027.
Just's representative Gustaf Grauers addressed the speculation directly before the tournament.
"Elijah has had a very strong season and really enjoyed his football at Motherwell, where everyone around the club has been excellent with him."
"There is interest from different clubs, as you would expect, but the focus now is fully on the World Cup and we will evaluate everything properly after the tournament."
Former All White Noel Barkley has predicted Just could end up at one of Glasgow's two giants before long, describing him as "a quiet, humble Kiwi and the most unassuming footballer you'll ever meet."
For now, Just remains focused on New Zealand's tournament. The All Whites' result against Iran leaves Group G tightly poised, with all four teams level on a single point after Belgium's draw with Egypt earlier the same day.
Whatever happens next in Group G, Just has already secured his place in the history of New Zealand football — and significantly raised his stock heading into a summer where Scottish football's two biggest clubs appear ready to make their move.