As Brian Clough once famously stated, it only takes a second to score a goal. Nobody understands this better than football punters, for whom goalscorer betting holds an immense appeal. Our detailed guide below explores the nuances of this topic, providing valuable insights as well as expert tips.
- Goalscorer Betting Explained
- Best Goalscorer Betting Sites
- Best Goalscorer Betting Sites
- Goalscorer Betting Tips
- Anytime Goalscorer Prediction Tips
- First Goalscorer Prediction Tips
- Last Goalscorer Prediction Tips
- Understanding Goalscorer Odds
- Goalscorer Rules Explained
- Other Goalscorer Markets
- Complex Goalscorer Bets
- Other Sports With Goalscorer Betting Markets
- Advantages of Goalscorer Betting
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Goalscorer Betting Explained
Goalscorer betting markets are potentially much more lucrative than any other regular betting option available across the best football betting sites. As the name implies, this market involves you trying to predict which player will score during a specific match or event.
It's as simple as that. You don't even have to predict a winning or losing team. Having said that, even the best strikers in the world suffer from dry spells and lulls in form, which is where things get a little trickier. Therefore, choosing the right player for a bet is the key to finding value.
Last but not least, it's important to know that there are a variety of goalscorer markets to choose from, e.g. whether a player scores the first or last goal, in which half he scores, how many goals he scores, and even whether the goal is a winning goal or not. The below table illustrates the different types of bets available.
| Betting Market | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Anytime Goalscorer | A player must score a goal during the match. |
| First/Last Goalscorer | A player must score either the first or last goal of the match. |
| Winning Goalscorer | To win, a player must score the winning goal of the match. |
| Both Halves Goalscorer | Betting on a player to score in both halves of a football match. |
| Multi Scorer | A player must score a minimum number of goals, normally 2 or more. |
| Goal Method | A player has to score a particular way; be it with a header, or from outside the box. |
| Wincast | Betting on a player to score as well as a team to win the match. |
| Scorecast | Betting on a player to score as well as the final score of the match. The odds are much higher, but it’s also harder to get right. |
| Timecast | A player must score a goal within a certain period of time. This can be during the first ten minutes, the first half, the second half, etc. |
| Goal Assist Double | Betting on a player to score, and also who provided the assist. |
The above image displays markets provided by Parimatch for Manchester City vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Best Goalscorer Betting Sites
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Best Goalscorer Betting Sites
Although most major international or UK bookmakers accept goalscorer bets, not all offer the same value in terms of promos, conditions, and odds. That's where our above list of the best goalscorer betting sites comes in, with all the information you need in one place to help you compare and contrast.
As you browse through our recommendations, you'll notice the sheer number of games and leagues they cover, including the top five tiers of English football, the top two divisions in many of Europe's top countries, and even the top-flights in lower coefficient nations, such as Romania's Liga I. So, no matter what game or league you're interested in, you're sure to find a great betting option.
All of the sites we've listed offer exceptional products, meaning any would be a good choice. However, there are a few outstanding features of individual bookmakers that give them an edge over the others.
- bet365 – Bet Boosts
If there's one thing bet365 love, it's a bet boost, offering pre-made bet builders with enhanced odds for big occasions that include European and domestic competitions. While other bookies may offer similar promotions, we firmly believe that bet365 has the competition beat here.
- Paddy Power – Multiple Match Bet Builder
As the name suggests, Paddy Power allows you to create bet builders on multiple games in a single bet slip. This means you can bet on multiple goalscorers, which increases your odds exponentially. However, bear in mind that, with any bet, increased odds means increased risk.
- Betway – Goalscorer Match Bets
In what is a really interesting betting market, Betway allows you to place a goalscorer head-to-head bet. Simply put, the bookmaker presents two players from opposing teams, leaving you to predict which of the two players will score more goals or if they will end up with the same goals tally.
Goalscorer Betting Tips
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the best goalscorer betting tips, it's important to acknowledge the most important step in betting: research. Doing your homework beforehand often pays off (literally) in the long run, so seeking out additional information in conjunction with our betting tips is a surefire way to make better-informed and more accurate bets.
Firstly, we suggest betting on what you already know. For example, if you bet on Roland Niczuly of Sepsi OSK to score against FC Rapid Bucuresti, that may sound like a good idea if you know nothing about the league. However, those who know their stuff would tell you that your chances here would be extremely unlikely, given that Niczuly is actually the goalkeeper for his team. The point is that it's important to have a good understanding from the beginning.
Secondly, you should use multiple sources to gather the information that you need. Here, it's important to opt for well-established websites and official club statements over gossip or rumours circulating around social media. Afterwards, cross-reference all the info you've collected across your sources to ensure that everything is accurate and up to date.
For example, last year, football managers monitored the Fantasy Premier League, taking note of the teams belonging to the players of opposing clubs. Eventually, they came to notice that certain players even went so far as to remove their own teammates from their Fantasy team if they knew that those teammates were not going to play in the matches scheduled for that upcoming weekend. This goes to show that sometimes unconventional strategies can pay off big in fantasy sports.
Finally, stats and figures are your best friend. Finding trends and concrete numbers to back up your predictions can go a long way. Of course, we at ThePuntersPage have you covered with a wide range of football stats, including, of course, goalscorer stats and goal involvement stats.
Additionally, be sure to check out our list of useful football betting sites that offer a wide array of useful features to help you stay on top of your game.
Anytime Goalscorer Prediction Tips
The Anytime Goalscorer requires you to place a wager on a specific player scoring a goal at any point during a given match, regardless of the final outcome.
Understanding the odds is key here. The players most likely to score, such as strikers, will have lower odds, while defensive-minded players will have much higher prices. Additionally, the odds for each player in this market are typically based on their historical scoring record, their position on the team, and other relevant factors, which we'll discuss in more detail throughout the following tips.
For more tips like this, continue reading this section.
- 1. Scoring streaks and in-form players
Players on a hot streak or with a recent positive goal-scoring record should be likely candidates to consider for this market. Imagine such a wager on the 1999 Champions League final, when Manchester United came from behind in stoppage time with a goal from Ole Solskjær!
Erling Haaland also springs to mind, a player who (at the time of writing) has scored more goals than he’s played games this season, and is a shoo-in to score even more. The downside is that his odds are very low.
- 2. Look out for Penalty/Set Piece Experts
Penalty-takers and set-piece experts are likely to score at any time during the game. Free kick specialists like James Ward-Prowse always look like good goalscoring bets, even when against the passage of play. Meanwhile, Harry Kane of Tottenham is a penalty expert, and banking on him scoring either from open play or with a set-piece is almost a sure bet with his recent record.
When a team is notorious for defending stubbornly, the defence can be pierced with a free kick. One mistake in the penalty box can even lead to a spot kick.
These free-kick and penalty-takers all offer excellent value and superior odds. Do not underestimate penalties and set pieces, especially if the opposing team is parking the bus in front of goal!
- 3. Check Social Media Updates
Teams routinely announce their formations an hour before kick-off on Twitter. Keep an eye out for these updates, because as soon as they're out, you can place bets according to who taking part in the match, and whether or not the best footballer is on the field of play. The chances of other players may therefore increase or decrease, with most bookies potentially not having enough time to react and change the odds. This means that you need to be quick to act.
Social media can also be useful for updates regarding player fitness or injury, as well as club statements. The latter actually make for the most reliable sources when it comes to the latest information, so if you are on Twitter, be sure to give your favourite teams a follow.
- 4. Place Live Bets
Anytime Goalscorer tends to have higher odds as a live market, especially if more than 10 minutes have passed. Bear in mind that players for teams who need a win at all costs would have more motivation to score during the game, especially in the last few minutes. Another option here would be Next Goalscorer and who is more likely to be the First Time Goalscorer – if it is available.
- 5. Combine With Other Bets
As any investor will tell you, diversification brings better chances of winning in the long run. The same can be said about betting. As you widen your scope and range, you may choose to combine several bets, possibly including a few with higher odds to offset those with lower prices.
This is why it makes sense to combine Anytime Goalscorer bets with say, First Scorer wagers. Ideally, if you choose an accumulator bet, it is best to combine different Anytime Goalscorer bets, or maybe even put your selections in a system bet if you choose more than three. In addition, don't forget to check out our detailed guide to the best best bet builder sites to see if your chosen bookie has this feature available.
By combining different bets, you'll end up with smaller-odds bets that are more likely to be successful. In this way, you minimise the losses inflicted by the higher-odds wagers, and replace these losses with more reliable, lower-odds stakes.
First Goalscorer Prediction Tips
First Goalscorer betting is much harder to predict, which is often reflected in the odds themselves. To place smarter and more accurate bets here, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.
1. Find Value
You’ll naturally want to fish out the best odds when staking on the most likely players to score first. On this note, you could get even more value by backing an attacking midfielder or goal-scoring defender, as they generally have more favourable odds than out-and-out attackers.
2. Use First Goalscorer Stats
You should check which players are in top form, rather than backing a player who has not scored in 10 games! This brings us to injuries and suspensions, which regularly pave the way for any tactical changes. For instance, a defender may be pushed into a central midfield position if a striker gets injured and has to come off the field of play. That, of course, changes the odds of him scoring first.
3. Consider the Overall Form of a Team
In a broader sense, the above also applies to the team’s overall form. If a team has a strong attack force, the chances that the team will score first are enhanced. Some teams are notorious for scoring last-minute goals, or for scoring early on and then sitting back to defend their lead. Such teams could be good picks for a First Goalscorer bet, and can dramatically affect Last Goalscorer odds, apart from those of the First Goalscorer. Dead-ball specialists, or better yet, a defender who takes penalties and free kicks, would provide higher odds and value.
4. Look at Head-to-Head Matchups
Head-to-head records between teams can highlight which players tend to be at their strongest (or weakest) when up against certain opponents, throwing up useful pointers for bettors in the process. Some strikers seem to struggle against certain players, while bottom-placed teams have been known to fight like lions, overcoming the odds and thus creating an upset.Derby matches are always hotly contested, so you should also consider the opponent’s tactics as well as those of the team or players that you're backing, as usual form tends to go out the window amidst such fierce gameplay.
5. Playing Style
When making a goalscorer match bet, observing different styles of play could prove to be crucial in decision making. Do they park the bus in front of the goal? Are they a physical squad that tends to give away free kicks and penalties? Perhaps a player is just returning from a long injury and may not be able to complete a full 90 minutes. Be sure to take all such factors into account beforehand.
6. Look at Top Players for Safe Bets
The top five European leagues boast numerous stars and creative playmakers – think Messi, Haaland, and Mbappé. These are all prime candidates; however, the odds may be a bit low. That said, these are the safest bets for goal scoring predictions.
Last Goalscorer Prediction Tips
Many of the tips for Anytime Goalscorer or First Goalscorer also apply to Last Goalscorer betting. You should also consider the value in defenders and midfielders, as well as the frequent correlation between First and Last Goalscorer odds.
- 1. Make Predictions Towards the End of the Match
Last Goalscorer betting is particularly interesting for live bets, especially during the later phases of a match. Betting pre-match on Last Goalscorer is akin to pure gambling, though there is no reason not to do it, as long as the odds are high enough. Here too, you can see payouts of up to 1000/1.
- 2. Try To Favour Fresh Players
Most team managers will save one of their most explosive and fastest forwards for the final minutes of the match. These substitutes usually have much more energy than players who have already been running up and down the pitch for the last 70+ minutes. Thus, they have a great shot of being the Last Goalscorer.
- 3. Keep an Eye on Super-Subs
A class of player which suits Last Goalscorer betting down to the ground is the super-sub. This refers to a player who a manager often leaves on the bench until later on in the match with the aim of changing the game and hopefully bagging a winning goal.
A classic example is Divock Origi during his time with Liverpool, who actually scored 15 times after the 75th minute. Finding players like Origi could be key in a Last Goalscorer match bet.
If a first team regular is on the bench, it could be great value to bet on him to score later on. First-team regulars will often be subbed in, especially if the team needs a boost – the odds will be incredibly high as he would not be playing from the start. This is a risky one, though, as he may not be subbed on at all.
- 4. Teams Stats
It's always a good idea to take a broader approach when looking at statistics. For last goalscorer betting, we recommend you look at which teams tend to score or concede late goals.
At the time of writing, Brighton have scored 11 goals in the last 15 minutes of a game this season, while on the opposite end, Nottingham Forest have conceded 12 late goals. That's more than a third of all their games played. The difficulty is finding the striker who'll deliver that devastating final blow.
In Ligue 1, the most late goals were scored in the top five leagues, with PSG scoring the most with 15 and Troyes conceding the same number.
Understanding Goalscorer Odds
When it comes to interpreting goalscoring odds for the Premier League, the Champions League, or any other football competition for that matter, you should understand what you are betting on and why.
Anytime Goalscorer odds
Anytime Goalscorer odds are usually much higher than Match Result odds, though they are significantly lower than First or Last Goalscorer odds. If you bet on a striker in a successful team, there is a good chance he will score at least one goal during the match. This is why strikers have the shortest odds. Of course, midfielders have higher odds, while goalies have astronomical odds. This is all due to market predictability. With payouts of 10/1 or 20/1, it is easy to see how Anytime Goalscorer match bets can be tempting to punters.
First Goalscorer odds and Last Goalscorer odds
First and Last Goalscorer odds are always higher than Anytime Goalscorer odds, due to them being so much more specific. This makes them a higher-risk betting option. Of course, this risk comes with a higher rewards. Depending on which player you choose, First Goalscorer odds can easily be 100/1 or even more. Despite these particular markets being a lot more challenging, Last Goalscorer also presents a certain amount of danger, as your pick may very well end up subbed or sent off before the end of the match. At the same time, you never know which goal may end up counting as the last one of the game – for example, a player can score a goal in the 1st minute of a match and still be the last goalscorer if the match ends 1-0.
Goalscorer Rules Explained
No matter which goalscorer betting market you end up selecting, there are always a few things to keep in mind. For instance, if your pick is stuck on the bench when the teams are announced and not on the field of play, what happens to your then? Understanding the betting rules for these wagers is essential, so we've broken them down below for clarity.
- Anytime Goalscorer Rules
Anytime Goalscorer is a simple and popular bet placed on a player to score during a game, whether in open play, set pieces, or penalties during regular and extra time. If your chosen player scores at any time, your bet wins and will be paid out at the odds stated by your bookie.
- First Goalscorer Rules
First Goalscorer betting is incredibly easy to understand – it simply requires you to place a stake on a particular player you think will score the first goal during a match for your bet to pay out. It is a great way to boost your odds, as you'll receive superior prices than, for instance, Anytime Goalscorer betting. Almost all best online betting sites in the UK offer betting options on First Goalscorer these days, and it is among the most popular online and land-based bookmaker betting markets.
- Last Goalscorer Rules
The Last Goalscorer market is just as easy to understand as First Goalscorer – you need to bet on which player will score the last goal in the match. As with First Goalscorer, this will also give you much higher odds than Anytime Goalscorer, though it can be very hard to predict.
- Own Goals
Own goals do not affect goalscorer bets, as the bet immediately rolls over to the second goal in these instances.
- No Player Scores
If no player scores and the result is a 0 – 0 stalemate, then the No Goalscorer bet wins.
- Players Who Do Not Appear
If a player you backed does not appear on the field at all, your stake is refunded in full. The same goes for players who appear on the pitch after the first goal is scored.
- Stoppage Time
Usually, stoppage time does count towards goalscorer betting, though you should check with your bookie just to be sure.
- Penalties, Free Kicks and Penalty Shoot-Outs
While regular penalties and free kicks usually count for goalscorer bets, penalty shoot-outs in elimination matches do not.
- Extra Time
Unless specifically mentioned in the terms of the bet, Anytime Goalscorer match bets do not include extra time.
Other Goalscorer Markets
Bookies offer plenty of goalscorer bets, such as First Goalscorer/Last Goalscorer for one team (FGS/LGS), Anytime/FGS/LGS + Correct Score/Goals/ (Wincast and Scorecast) and Player to Score 2/3 or More Goals.
- To Score First and/or Last Goal: This is a combination of First Goalscorer and Last Goalscorer. If your player scores the first and/or last goal, you win. This is slightly less risky then choosing one outright, giving you something to play for if someone else grabs the opener.
- Player To Score Two or More Goals: If your player scores at least two goals, you win this bet. This can be done together with a multi-goal bet to increase your odds, a wager which basically involves choosing a range of the amount of goals scored in a game.
- Player To Get a Hat Trick: This is the same as to score two or more goals, however the baseline is three goals. This is much harder to hit. In the 2021/2022 Premier League campaign, only 13 hat-tricks were scored – that’s only 3.4%.
- Player To Score in Both Halves: Your player must score in both the first and the second half, meaning they must score at least two goals throughout the entire game.
- Player To Score Exact Goals: This bet allows you to predict exactly how many goals your player will score. The odds are much higher as it is very difficult to predict how many goals a player can score.
- Goal Assist Double: This bet involves you predicting that a player will score anytime during the match, as well as providing an assist during the same match.
Complex Goalscorer Bets
Goalscorer betting can be combined with other types of bets in order to create a more complex bet for a higher payout.
Wincast Bet
The Wincast bet is among the most common to combine with a First Goalscorer bet. It pays out if you predict the first goalscorer correctly, and the winning team as well. Keep an out for the latest predictions and tips to enhance the Wincast market across the major European leagues, like the Premier League, Champions League, Italian Serie A and more.
Scorecast
You can also combine the bet with a match result. This is known as a Scorecast, and is slightly more complicated than a Wincast wager. You need to predict the First Goalscorer and the exact game score, and you can roll the three bets into one, whereby they all need to come through for you to win. This will be a combination of First Goalscorer, Winner of the Game, and the Correct Score.
Accas and Bet Builders
- Goalscorer Bets in Accas
While accas can be a good way to increase your win potential, we do not always recommend them for goalscorer betting. That is because the odds are usually already quite high, so adding another element of risk may be pushing it a bit.
Another thing to keep in mind is that bookies may not allow accas on the same match. For higher payouts regarding precise match predictions, we recommend using one of the complex goalscorer bets mentioned above, or similar.
- Goalscorer Bets in Bet Builders
Bet builders are a type of multiple-legged bet that includes selections from the same match. Unlike accas, which are composed of selections from different matches, bet builders allow you to focus on a single game.
One popular addition to bet builders is the goalscorer bet, which can provide high odds and a thrilling betting experience. However, bear in mind that as you add more selections to your bet builder, the riskier your wager becomes.
If you're interested in goalscorer bet builders, it's worth keeping an eye out for bookies that offer bet boosts on big events. These boosts can provide even better odds, making the bet even more appealing. .
Other Sports With Goalscorer Betting Markets
Goalscorer betting is most prominent in football betting, though it also occurs in virtually any sport where players can score goals. That includes sports like hockey, NHL, handball, lacrosse, polo, and water polo.
Having said that, we suggest sticking to the sports which you have the most in-depth knowledge when placing this type of bet. While betting as a whole may be a great way to gain new interests in different sports, goalscorer betting requires a certain amount of know-how – especially since it concerns specific players, and not just teams.
Advantages of Goalscorer Betting
Goalscorer betting has many advantages. It offers higher payouts, and there is plenty of statistical evidence for punters to show how well a player has been performing throughout a season. The only real disadvantage is that it an be harder to predict than match results, making it high-risk in nature.
- Attractive odds: The more complex or restricted your bet, the higher the potential payout. This makes it a good bet if you can find the right value for your wager.
- Anytime bets go on to the final whistle: The main advantage of Anytime Goalscorer bets, in particular, is that the action goes on until the final whistle. If your player does score in the last few seconds of the game, and your bet wins, imagine all the ensuing excitement and celebrations!
- You can bet on multiple players: Another benefit is that you can make several Anytime Goalscorer bets, so if your chosen player scores early on, another has a chance of doubling your victory.
- One win can make up for multiple losses: Since your payout will be many times your bet, a single win can easily make up for multiple losses. If you win a single bet at 10/1, while losing five other bets of the same size, you will still have a profit of two times your total wager. That said, we do not encourage punters to chase their losses.
- Easy for beginners: Moreover, you do not have to be a football expert to win goalscorer bets – all you need to do is basic research on how likely a player is to score based on the data available. For more useful info, check out our detailed article on betting terms and definitions.
Goalscorer Betting FAQs
Goalscorer betting is betting on a particular player to score. There are many different goalscorer betting markets, including Anytime Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, First Goalscorer, and more.
The betting market involves making a ‘player to score' prediction at any point in the match. If the player does score, you win the bet and if not, you lose your stake.
Usually, goalscorer bets cover the 90 minutes of official time and injury time, unless otherwise stated. Generally, extra time and penalty shootouts will not count. Check the rules of your bookie to be sure.
Usually, no. Penalties during official time and penalty shootouts do not count. Again, it's best to check the rules of your book in question to be absolutely certain.
Own goals do not count for goalscorer bets. If you bet on First Goalscorer, and the first goal turns out to be an own goal, then the bet will move on to the next goal that is scored (after the own goal). If your player scores the second goal, you will win your bet.
If the player on whom you bet does not play in the match, the bet will simply be voided. That means you will get a full refund.
Well, you’re out of luck. If your player gets subbed off, you’ll lose your stake.
Welcome bonuses or free bets have their own terms. Usually, you need to wager them at certain minimum odds. Most of the time, goalscorer bets qualify, since they tend to have odds much higher than 3/2 or 2/1 (which are common for bookie promotions).
Yes. All major bookies offer goalscorer markets, though we recommend bet365, Parimatch and Paddy Power, as they generally have the best odds, customer service, and promos.
Almost all reputable bookmakers offer goalscorer betting, yet odds can differ significantly across different sites. Therefore, it's a good idea to compare and contrast the prices available between various operators before proceeding (again, we recommend Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, or bet365 here). Odds value also depends on the goalscorer market you pick – more specific markets such as First Goalscorer will have better odds than Anytime Goalscorer.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Goalscoring betting is an extremely popular for a reason. It's simple to understand and allows for short-term wagers, meaning you’ll know the outcome quickly. Most of all, it really adds a sense of excitement to a sporting event, especially since you can place bets while the action unfolds as well as before the match starts.
However, given the volatile nature of goalscorer markets, it's crucial that you do your research as thoroughly as possible before placing your bets. Being well-informed about the teams, players, and their recent performances can make all the difference!