First, Last, Anytime Goalscorer: Betting Markets Explained
First, Last, Anytime Goalscorer: Betting Markets Explained
Goalscorer markets are among some of the most widely placed player bets in football. Rather than predicting who wins a match, you're backing a specific player to find the net, and the market you choose determines the conditions your selection needs to meet.
There are three main goalscorer markets: first goalscorer, anytime goalscorer and last goalscorer. Each one works differently, carries different odds and has its own settlement rules. Here's how they compare and what's worth knowing before you place one.
The three main goalscorer markets
Anytime goalscorer
With this market, you're backing a player to score at any point during the match: first, last or anywhere in between. As long as they find the net before the final whistle, the bet wins.
If they score twice, the bet still only pays out once unless a separate market covers multiple goals. The anytime market carries shorter odds than first goalscorer because the condition is less specific.
First goalscorer
Here, you’re backing a specific player to score the very first goal of the match. It doesn’t matter which team they play for or whether their side wins, if they score first, the bet lands. If any other player scores before them, the bet loses, regardless of whether your selection then goes on to score.
The first goalscorer market tends to carry longer odds than anytime goalscorer, reflecting the additional condition. Scoring at any point in a match is one thing; scoring before anyone else is another. And that distinction is priced into the market accordingly.
Last goalscorer
And finally, here you're backing a player to score the final goal of the match. As with first goalscorer, it doesn't matter what happens before that point, only whether your selected player nets the last one. If the match ends 0-0, the bet loses.
Last goalscorer odds tend to sit in a similar range to first goalscorer, reflecting the same level of specificity.
How the markets compare
Feature | First goalscorer | Anytime goalscorer | Last goalscorer |
What you need | Your player to score before anyone else | Your player to score at any point | Your player to score the final goal |
Typical odds | Longer - higher specificity | Shorter - lower specificity | Longer - similar to first goalscorer |
If another player scores first | Bet loses immediately | Bet remains live | Bet remains live |
If the match ends 0-0 | Bet loses | Bet loses | Bet loses |
Own goals | Don't count; bet continues until a proper goal is scored | Don't count | Don't count |
Settled on | 90 minutes plus + injury time | 90 minutes + injury time | 90 minutes + injury time |
A worked example — first vs. anytime
You back Player A to score first and Player B to score anytime in the same match. Player B scores in the 12th minute, Player A scores in the 55th minute, and the match ends 2-1.
The first goalscorer bet on Player A loses, because Player B scored before them. The anytime goalscorer bet on Player B wins, since they scored at some point during the match, which is all that's required.
Two different bets, two different outcomes, from the same pair of goals.
Pros and cons of goalscorer markets
The case for
They offer a different way to follow a match beyond the result.
If you have a view on a specific player's form or their role in the team's attack - or the quality of the opposition's defence - goalscorer markets give you a way to act on that view.
The first and last goalscorer markets carry longer odds than anytime, which reflects how specific those outcomes are. And the anytime market stays live for the full 90 minutes, which keeps the bet relevant throughout.
The trade-off
First goalscorer in particular is an unforgiving bet. A single goal from any other player, at any point before yours scores, ends it.
A strong defensive display from the opposition, an injury to your selected player or a relatively rare game event - a red card, a penalty given to the other team - can all affect whether your pick has the opportunity to score at all.
These are markets where the outcome is genuinely unpredictable, and that unpredictability is what the odds reflect.
Before you bet
A few things worth bearing in mind before you add a goalscorer market to your bet slip.
Team news and starting XI
Goalscorer markets are player-specific, so knowing whether your selection is starting matters.
Starting lineups are usually confirmed around an hour before kick-off. If a player you've backed doesn't start, the bet is normally voided if a goal is scored before they enter the pitch, though the exact rules around this can vary, so it's worth checking the terms for the relevant market.
Substitutes
If a player comes on as a substitute and no goal has been scored yet, their first goalscorer bet usually remains active. If a player starts but is substituted off before scoring, and no goal has been scored, the bet typically loses at that point. As mentioned, specific rules can vary – the terms for the market are always worth a read before placing.
Own goals don't count
If the first goal of a match is an own goal, it doesn't settle any goalscorer market. First goalscorer bets continue until a player scores a legitimate goal; anytime and last goalscorer bets are unaffected by own goals in terms of settlement.
Extra time is usually excluded
Goalscorer markets are normally settled on the 90-minute result plus injury time. Goals scored in extra time usually don't count. If you're betting on a cup match that could go to extra time, it's worth confirming the terms on the specific market before placing.
Position and role
Any outfield player in the listed squad can be selected across all three markets – strikers, midfielders and defenders. Goalkeepers are rarely priced in goalscorer markets, so availability there will depend on the specific game and operator.
The odds across those positions reflect how frequently players in each role tend to score. A striker leading the line will carry shorter odds than a centre-back; a goalkeeper will typically carry the longest odds of all. Longer odds reflect lower probability rather than being inherently better or worse value.
Disallowed goals
If a goal is officially disallowed - for offside, handball or any other reason - it doesn't count for any goalscorer market. Only goals that stand as official will affect settlement.
Goalscorer markets in bet builders
First goalscorer and anytime goalscorer markets can be combined with other selections in a bet builder at Bally Bet.
A first goalscorer, match result and total goals selection can all sit in the same bet builder, with the odds multiplying across each leg. All legs must land for the bet to pay out, and adding a goalscorer leg alongside other markets increases both the potential return and the number of conditions that need to be satisfied.
Goalscorer betting FAQs
Does the first goalscorer bet include extra time?
No. They’re only valid for the standard 90 minutes plus injury time. If a match goes to extra time in a cup competition and your selection scores after 90 minutes, that goal won't settle a first, anytime or last goalscorer bet placed under standard terms.
Do own goals count?
No. Own goals are excluded from all goalscorer markets. If the first goal of a match is an own goal, first goalscorer bets remain active until a player scores a legitimate goal. Anytime and last goalscorer bets are similarly unaffected.
Does anytime goalscorer include penalties?
Yes, as long as the goal is scored within 90 minutes plus injury time. A penalty converted in the 85th minute counts the same as any other goal for settlement purposes. Goals scored in extra time or a penalty shootout are excluded.
Further reading:
There's plenty more to dig into over on the Bally Bet blog. We break down the markets with practical sports betting guides for football and a whole host of other sports. Prefer the casino? You can check out our range of game spotlights and tips there, too.
All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.