First & Anytime Goalscorer Betting Explained
Goalscorer markets let you back a specific player to find the net — whether they score first, last, or at any point during the match. They're among the most popular and widely offered football betting markets, but they also contain some of the most important rules in sports betting. This guide covers every goalscorer market type, how returns work, the key rules around non-starters and own goals, and how to find genuine value.
The Goalscorer Market Types
Goalscorer betting splits into three main markets: anytime goalscorer (scores at any point), first goalscorer (scores the opening goal of the match) and last goalscorer (scores the final goal). Each has different odds, different rules and different strategic considerations.
Anytime Goalscorer
Your player scores at any point during the match. Most flexible, shortest odds of the three. A player who scores in the 90th minute satisfies the bet just as much as one who scores in the 1st minute.
First Goalscorer
Your player scores the very first goal of the match. Longer odds than anytime — only one player can be first scorer and the match must have at least one goal. If the match ends 0–0 all first goalscorer bets are void.
Last Goalscorer
Your player scores the final goal of the match. Longer odds than anytime, similar to first goalscorer. If the match ends 0–0 all last goalscorer bets are also void. The player who scores last in a 3–1 match (not the hat-trick hero, but whoever nets the third goal) wins this bet.
2+ Goals / Hat-Trick
Some bookmakers offer markets on a player scoring 2 or more goals in a match, or completing a hat-trick. These carry longer odds and are popular for backing prolific strikers in mismatched fixtures or known high-scorers in form.
Anytime Goalscorer
Anytime goalscorer is the simplest and most commonly placed goalscorer bet. You back a player to score at least once in the match — at any time, by any method (open play, header, penalty, deflection). All that matters is that their name appears on the scoresheet.
Settles like any standard bet.
Return = Stake × Decimal odds
Example: £10 on a player at 2.50 anytime → return = £25 if they score,
stake lost if they don't.
Typical Anytime Goalscorer Odds by Player Type
Elite Striker (Top Form)
Odds: 1.60 – 2.00
Implied probability: 50–62%
Example: In-form Haaland or Mbappé at home to a weaker side
Regular Striker / 10-Goal Season
Odds: 2.20 – 3.00
Implied probability: 33–45%
Example: A reliable Premier League striker in a balanced match
Attacking Midfielder
Odds: 3.00 – 5.00
Implied probability: 20–33%
Example: A creative number 10 who scores 8–12 goals per season
Wide Player / Full Back
Odds: 5.00 – 12.00
Implied probability: 8–20%
Example: A winger or attacking full back with moderate goal output
Anytime Goalscorer — Worked Example
Chelsea vs West Ham. You back Cole Palmer to score anytime at 2.10 for £15.
Palmer scored at least once — bet wins.
Return: £15 × 2.10 = £31.50 | Profit: £16.50
A brace still counts as one anytime bet win —
no extra return for multiple goals unless you placed a
separate 2+ goals market. Bet wins at the same odds.
Return: £31.50
Palmer didn't find the net — bet loses
regardless of the match result.
Stake lost: −£15.00
First Goalscorer
First goalscorer is the most high-profile goalscorer market — and carries the longest odds of the standard three because only one player can score first in any match, and the match must also produce at least one goal.
Your player must score the very first goal of the match. Goals ruled out by VAR do not count — the first valid, awarded goal determines the winner. If the match ends 0–0, all first goalscorer bets are void and stakes are returned. Own goals do not count — if an own goal is the first goal, first goalscorer bets remain live until the next non-own goal.
First vs Anytime — How Odds Compare
Lower Odds — More Ways to Win
A player who scores in any of the 90 minutes satisfies the bet. Multiple goals in a match mean multiple chances. The wider winning window means shorter odds — a striker at 2.50 anytime might be 7.00 or 8.00 to score first.
Higher Odds — One Chance Only
Only the first valid goal of the match counts. Even if your player scores a hat-trick, they only win this bet if their first goal is also the match's first goal. Much narrower winning condition — reflected in significantly longer odds.
First Goalscorer — Worked Example
Tottenham vs Arsenal. You back Son Heung-min to score first at 7.00 for £10.
Son scores 1st — Tottenham win 2–1
Son's goal was the first of the match.
Return: £10 × 7.00 = £70.00
Profit: £60.00
Arsenal score 1st — Son scores 2nd goal
Son scored but not first.
Bet loses. Stake lost: −£10.00
(Anytime bet would have won — first bet loses)
Match ends 0–0
No goals scored — bet void.
Stake refunded: £10.00
No profit, no loss.
Own goal is the first goal
Own goal skipped — bet remains live.
Son's next goal would win the bet.
If match ends with only own goals: void
Last Goalscorer
Last goalscorer works on the same principle as first goalscorer but applies to the final goal of the match. It's less commonly offered and less commonly placed — partly because the identity of the last scorer is inherently unknowable until the final whistle.
Your player must score the final goal of the match. Goals ruled out by VAR do not count. If the match ends 0–0, all last goalscorer bets are void. Own goals do not count for last goalscorer — if the final goal of the match is an own goal, last goalscorer bets are settled on the previous non-own goal.
Last goalscorer can produce unexpected outcomes — a substitute who comes on and scores a late consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat wins the last goalscorer bet, while the hat-trick hero who scored the first three goals does not. This unpredictability makes last goalscorer both exciting and difficult to research systematically, which is one reason it attracts less attention from serious bettors.
The Key Rules — Non-Starters, Own Goals & Voids
Goalscorer markets have some of the most important and most frequently misunderstood settlement rules in football betting. Getting these wrong can lead to real surprises when a bet settles — always read your bookmaker's specific rules before placing.
The rules below cover the most common industry standard positions — but individual bookmakers differ on non-starter treatment, own goal handling and void conditions. Always verify with your specific bookmaker before placing a large goalscorer bet.
Non-Starters and Substitutes
Most Bookmakers: Bet Is Void
If your selected player does not appear in the starting line-up, most bookmakers void the bet and return your stake. This protects bettors from losing stakes on players who never took the field. Confirm your bookmaker's policy — some settle non-starters as losers rather than voids.
Bet Remains Active
If your player starts on the bench and comes on as a substitute, the bet remains live. They can still score and win the anytime or last goalscorer bet. For first goalscorer, a substitute can only win if no goal has been scored before they came on — an increasingly unlikely scenario.
Own Goals
Anytime Goalscorer
Own goals do not count for the player who scores them. If a defender scores an own goal, it doesn't count as a goal for the anytime goalscorer market on that defender. Only goals credited to the scoring player count.
First Goalscorer
If an own goal is the first goal of the match, first goalscorer bets remain live until the next valid, non-own goal. The own goal is skipped and the market continues.
Last Goalscorer
If the last goal of the match is an own goal, last goalscorer bets are settled on the previous non-own goal. If all goals in the match were own goals, last goalscorer bets are void.
Disallowed Goals and VAR
A goal disallowed by VAR does not count for any goalscorer market — regardless of whether it appeared to go in at the time. Only goals that are awarded and stand on the official scoresheet count for settlement purposes. This applies equally to first, anytime and last goalscorer markets.
0–0 Draws and Void Bets
First Goalscorer — 0–0
All first goalscorer bets are void. Stake returned to all bettors regardless of who they backed.
Last Goalscorer — 0–0
All last goalscorer bets are void. Stake returned to all bettors.
Anytime Goalscorer — 0–0
Anytime goalscorer bets lose in a 0–0 draw — they are not voided. Your player did not score, so the bet is a straightforward loss.
Combining Goalscorer Bets
Goalscorer selections can be combined with other markets — either into accumulators with other goalscorer picks, or as part of a broader combination with match result or totals markets.
Goalscorer Accumulators
Multiple anytime goalscorer selections combined into a single acca. All selected players must score for the bet to win. Odds compound quickly — three players at 2.50, 3.00 and 2.00 produce combined odds of 15.00. One player failing to score loses the whole bet.
Scorer & Result Combos
Combining a player to score anytime with a match result. Example: Player A to score anytime AND home team to win. Both conditions must be satisfied. Longer odds than either alone — but two conditions can independently fail.
First Scorer & Correct Score
Combining who scores first with the exact final scoreline. This is among the longest-odds markets in football betting. Very high potential return, very low win probability — a novelty bet rather than a value play for most bettors.
Non-Starter Voids in Accas
If a player in your goalscorer acca does not start, that leg is voided and removed from the accumulator — the bet continues with the remaining legs at reduced combined odds. This is important to understand before relying on a multi-leg goalscorer acca on match day.
Finding Value in Goalscorer Markets
Goalscorer markets are among the most overround markets bookmakers offer — which means the margin against the bettor is higher than in most other markets. Finding genuine value requires a systematic approach and a specific edge.
Because there are many possible goalscorers in any match — 22 outfield players — and all their implied probabilities are priced to sum to well over 100%, goalscorer markets often carry overrounds of 15–30%. This is significantly higher than match odds or totals markets. Value exists but requires real selectivity to overcome this margin.
Penalties are one of the most reliable sources of goals for specific players. A designated penalty taker on a team that wins several penalties per season has a systematically higher scoring probability than raw shot numbers suggest. Bookmakers sometimes underprice reliable penalty takers — particularly if their open-play output has been modest recently.
✅ Penalty takers are consistently underpricedThe most direct predictor of a player scoring is their shot volume and shot quality — measured by expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes. A player generating 0.6 xG per 90 has a much higher anytime scoring probability than one generating 0.2 xG per 90, regardless of their recent goal tally. Use xG to build your own probability estimate, then compare to implied probability from the odds.
📊 xG per 90 is the strongest individual predictorOpponent defensive quality is a major factor in goalscorer probability. A striker who averages 0.4 xG per 90 facing a side conceding 2.0 xG per match is in a much better position than the same player facing a compact, low-block defensive team. Match-specific context matters as much as season averages.
Some players derive a disproportionate share of their goals from set pieces — corners, free kicks, and headed goals from dead-ball situations. When facing a team that concedes heavily from set pieces, these players have higher-than-average scoring probabilities that may not be fully reflected in their anytime odds.
Goalscorer odds vary more across bookmakers than almost any other market. The same player to score anytime might be priced at 2.75 at one bookmaker and 3.25 at another. Because the overround is already high, getting the best available price is even more important than in tighter-margin markets. Always check multiple bookmakers before placing a goalscorer bet.
✅ Price shopping is essential in goalscorer marketsCommon Mistakes to Avoid
Backing First Scorer Without Checking Line-Ups
Placing a first goalscorer bet before the confirmed line-ups are published is a significant risk. If your player is rested or doesn't start, your bet is void — but if the odds have moved since you placed it, you can't rebook at the same price. Wait for confirmed starting XI announcements where possible, typically 60–75 minutes before kick-off.
Confusing Anytime and First Goalscorer Odds
A player at 2.50 anytime and 7.00 first goalscorer is not twice as likely to score first as they are anytime. The gap between anytime and first scorer odds reflects the much narrower winning condition — only one player can score first. Never mistake the longer first scorer odds as better value without understanding that the probability is also much lower.
Ignoring the Overround
Goalscorer markets are among the worst-value markets bookmakers offer in terms of margin. Betting goalscorers casually and frequently without edge is one of the fastest ways to erode a betting bankroll. Use implied probability to check whether your estimated scoring probability genuinely beats the odds on offer.
Assuming a Brace Pays Extra on Anytime
An anytime goalscorer bet pays out once — regardless of how many goals the player scores. A hat-trick hero returns the same profit as a player who scores with the last kick of the game. To profit specifically from multiple goals, you need a separate 2+ goals or hat-trick market bet.
Chasing Goals-Per-Game Without Context
A player on a hot streak of 5 goals in 5 games looks attractive — but if 4 of those goals came from penalties or against bottom-half sides, the underlying quality of scoring is lower than the headline number suggests. Always look at xG, shot volume and opponent quality alongside raw goals.
Not Understanding Own Goal Rules
Own goals do not count for the player who scores them in any goalscorer market. In first and last goalscorer markets, own goals are skipped and the market continues. Many bettors are caught out by this — particularly in first goalscorer markets where an early own goal resets the market unexpectedly.
Common Questions
Yes — a penalty scored during normal time counts as a goal for anytime, first and last goalscorer markets. The method of scoring is irrelevant — open play, penalty, free kick, header or deflection all count equally. The only goals that do not count are own goals (credited to the opposing team) and goals scored in a penalty shootout after the match.
If your player starts and is substituted off without scoring, the anytime goalscorer bet loses — there is no refund for a player who played but didn't score. The void rule only applies to players who do not appear in the match at all. A player who starts and is substituted at half time without scoring has had their chance to score — the bet is settled as a loss.
Yes — there's no restriction on placing both a first goalscorer and an anytime goalscorer bet on the same player in the same match. If your player scores first, both bets win. If they score but not first, only the anytime bet wins. This can be a useful way to cover the scenario where your player scores — getting the longer first scorer odds if they open the scoring, while having anytime as a backup if they score later.
No — goalscorer markets are almost universally settled on the 90-minute result plus injury time only. Goals scored in extra time in a cup match do not count for first, anytime or last goalscorer settlement. This is consistent across the vast majority of bookmakers, but always verify the specific rules for the competition you are betting on.
Neither is inherently better value — it depends on the specific odds offered and your genuine probability estimate. In general, anytime goalscorer markets tend to carry a slightly lower overround than first goalscorer, making them marginally better value on average. First goalscorer odds are longer but the true probability of scoring first is also much lower. If you have a strong conviction that a player will score but no particular view on timing, anytime is the more efficient bet. First goalscorer makes sense when you have a specific view on the match opening — for example, a team that scores early frequently against certain opposition.
Goalscorer prices vary significantly across bookmakers — sometimes by a full point or more on the same player. Always compare before you place to make sure you're getting the best available price on your selection.
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