What Are Goal Scorer Betting Markets?

Goal scorer betting lets you back specific players to find the net in a match, and it's one of the most popular markets in football betting. Rather than predicting the match result, you're wagering on who scores. The market splits into several distinct options, each with its own odds, risk level, and appeal depending on the game you're watching.

Most bookmakers offer three main goal scorer markets: first goalscorer, last goalscorer, and anytime goalscorer. Of the three, anytime scorer is the most forgiving — your player just has to score at some point during the 90 minutes (plus stoppage time). First and last scorer are trickier and carry higher odds as a result.

Knowing which market suits each situation separates bettors who consistently get value from those who pick randomly and wonder why their bets keep losing.

Anytime Goalscorer: The Best Starting Point

Anytime scorer is where most bettors start — and rightly so. Back a striker who scores in a match and you win, regardless of when the goal came. That flexibility makes it far more predictable than chasing first or last scorer markets.

The catch is that bookmakers price these markets carefully. A prolific striker like Erling Haaland or Harry Kane often starts at short odds (around 1/2 to 4/6) for anytime scorer in home games. That's a reflection of how often they actually do score. Roughly 60–70% of top strikers' shots come from inside the box, and the best ones convert at rates that justify those prices.

Where you can find value is in secondary attacking players: the left winger who punches above his expected goals, the midfielder who arrives late into the box consistently. These players often sit at 2/1 to 4/1 in anytime markets despite scoring every three or four matches — which at those odds represents decent long-term value.

First Goalscorer Betting: High Risk, High Reward

First goalscorer carries a penalty for being specific. Even if your player scores twice, you lose the bet if someone else scored first. That restriction shoots the odds up — a striker priced at 6/4 for anytime scorer might be 5/1 or 6/1 for first goalscorer.

The stats here are unforgiving. In Premier League matches, the team that scores first wins the game roughly 66% of the time. That tells you which teams tend to open scoring — usually the ones pressing early and creating chances in the first 20 minutes. If a forward plays for a team known for fast starts, they're worth considering for first scorer markets.

Check early-goal data before backing first scorer. Some players score a disproportionate number of their goals before the 30-minute mark. A striker with five goals in the first 25 minutes across a season is a much better first-scorer candidate than one who's clinical but tends to score late on the counter.

Dead balls are another angle. Teams with a set-piece specialist who regularly takes corners or free kicks close to the box — and a tall centre-back who times runs well — produce first-goal opportunities that market prices sometimes undervalue.

How to Identify Value in Scorer Markets

Value is the word that separates smart betting from noise. A player priced at 3/1 for anytime scorer who realistically scores in about 30% of matches is fair value. The same price for a player who scores in 40% of games is genuinely good value. The trick is working out which category you're in.

Shot volume matters enormously. A forward who averages four shots per match has more scoring opportunities than one with two, regardless of reputation. Sites like FBref and SofaScore publish per-game shot counts, shots on target, and penalty-area touches. Run through those numbers before placing scorer bets.

Opposition defensive record is equally important. Backing a striker against a team that's conceded in 12 of their last 14 away matches puts the odds in your favour structurally. Backing the same striker against a side that has kept five clean sheets from eight games is a very different proposition, whatever the scorer odds suggest.

Don't ignore recent form in a narrow window. A player who's been blank for six matches despite creating chances is often not in terrible form — they're in a goalscoring drought that statistically corrects. Their odds drift higher. Their underlying numbers (shots, xG) stay solid. That's often the time to back them.

Combining Scorer Bets with Other Markets

Some bettors combine anytime scorer with match outcome in a "scorecast" — predicting both who scores and what the correct score is. The odds are big (sometimes 20/1 to 50/1 or higher) but the probability of hitting both is low. Treat scorecasts as small-stake, lottery-style bets rather than serious value plays.

Folding anytime scorer into a double or treble with other confident selections can boost returns while keeping individual legs at shorter odds. Back a 6/4 anytime scorer, a 1/1 BTTS, and a 4/5 home win, and you might construct a treble paying around 7/1 to 9/1 from three markets you've genuinely done research on. That's more satisfying than chasing a single long shot with no edge.

Be careful about accumulating scorer bets across multiple matches though. Each leg is independently uncertain. Three anytime scorer picks might each have a 35% chance of landing — combine them and your treble probability drops to around 4%. The odds need to compensate for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does anytime goalscorer mean in football betting?
Anytime goalscorer means you're backing a player to score at least once during the match, at any point. It doesn't matter whether they open the scoring or tap in a late consolation — if they score, your bet wins.

Does an own goal count for anytime scorer bets?
Own goals don't count for individual goal scorer markets. If a player deflects the ball into their own net, that doesn't trigger a payout for any goalscorer selection at most bookmakers. Check the specific rules of your bookie to be sure.

What happens to my first goalscorer bet if the player is substituted before scoring?
Most bookmakers void first goalscorer bets if the selected player doesn't take part at all. If your player comes on as a substitute and doesn't score, the bet loses as normal. If they don't play at all, you typically get your stake returned — check the terms.

Which goal scorer market is easiest to win?
Anytime scorer is the most achievable because you only need the player to score at any point. First and last goalscorer are harder because they require a specific sequence of events. If you're new to scorer markets, start with anytime before moving to the higher-odds options.

Can penalties count in goal scorer bets?
Yes, penalty goals count for goal scorer markets. If your selected player scores from the spot, that's a valid goal. For this reason, designated penalty takers — especially in sides that earn a lot of penalties — get an extra edge in anytime scorer markets worth factoring in.