First & Anytime Goalscorer Soccer Bets: What They Are & How to Approach Them

Goals are the most important currency in soccer, and betting on goalscorers is one of the most popular ways to wager on individual players.

Similar to first and anytime touchdown scorer props in NFL and college football betting, first goalscorer and anytime goalscorer betting in soccer allows you to predict whether a particular player will find the back of the net, either before anyone else or at any point during a match.

These wagers are among the many prop bets available to soccer bettors and can provide an alternative to traditional markets such as the moneyline, goal line, and match total.

But picking a recognizable striker or a team's leading scorer isn't necessarily enough to make a smart goalscorer bet. Playing time, expected starting lineups, penalty duties, set pieces, the opponent, recent performances, and the odds all deserve consideration.

In this guide, we explain how first and anytime goalscorer betting works, how the two markets differ, what happens if your player doesn't start, and what to consider when evaluating goalscorer odds at Lucky Rebel, BetOnline, and other soccer betting sites.

What Is Goalscorer Betting in Soccer?

Goalscorer betting involves wagering on which player will score during a soccer match.

Sportsbooks offer several variations, but two of the most common are first and anytime goalscorer. An anytime goalscorer bet wins if your selected player scores a qualifying goal, while a first goalscorer bet requires them to score before anyone else.

Other options can include last goalscorer, two or more goals, hat tricks, and other player-specific scoring markets.

Settlement rules can vary between sportsbooks, particularly for substitutes, own goals, extra time, and players who don't participate, so always check the applicable rules before betting.

What Is an Anytime Goalscorer Bet?

An anytime goalscorer bet is a wager on a player to score at least one goal during the applicable period of a match.

Suppose Liverpool is playing Arsenal and a sportsbook lists Liverpool's Alexander Isak at +130 to score anytime. A $100 bet would return $230 if Isak scores a qualifying goal, consisting of the original $100 stake and $130 in winnings.

It doesn't matter whether Isak scores first, last, or somewhere in between. As long as he scores at least once within the sportsbook's applicable settlement period, the bet wins.

That makes anytime goalscorer betting simpler than first goalscorer betting. You are trying to answer one primary question: Will this player score?

A player can also score multiple times without changing the payout of a standard anytime goalscorer wager. If you want to bet on a player scoring two or more goals or recording a hat trick, those are separate markets that may offer much longer odds.

What Is a First Goalscorer Bet?

A first goalscorer bet requires your selected player to score the first qualifying goal of the match.

For example, imagine Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe is +250 to score first in a UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan. A $100 winning bet would return $350, including $250 in profit.

If Mbappe scores in the 30th minute but someone else scored for Real or Inter in the 15th minute, your first goalscorer bet loses. It doesn't matter that your selection eventually found the net.

Because the conditions are much more restrictive, first goalscorer odds are typically longer than anytime goalscorer odds on the same player.

There may also be a "no goalscorer" option for matches expected to be low scoring. This selection generally wins if the match finishes 0-0, subject to the sportsbook's rules.

Comparing First Goalscorer and Anytime Goalscorer Betting

The fundamental difference between these markets is how specific your prediction needs to be.

Anytime goalscorer bets give your selection the entire match to score, while first goalscorer bets provide a much narrower path to victory. Even if you correctly predict that a player will score, a first goalscorer wager loses if someone else scores beforehand.

That additional difficulty is why first goalscorer odds are typically longer. Neither market is inherently better; what matters is whether the potential payout adequately reflects the probability of the outcome.

If you are unfamiliar with converting betting odds into probabilities, our guide on how to read sports betting odds explains how American odds work and what they indicate about an outcome's implied probability.

How Do Sportsbooks Set Goalscorer Odds?

Goalscorer odds reflect a sportsbook's assessment of how likely each player is to score, with the sportsbook's margin incorporated into the prices.

A prolific center forward playing for a heavy favorite will generally have shorter anytime goalscorer odds than a defensive midfielder on an underdog. Expected playing time, individual scoring rates, penalties, matchup strength, and the match's expected number of goals can all influence the market.

Goalscorer prices can also change as new information becomes available. Confirmed starting lineups, injuries, tactical changes, and other developments can cause odds to move before kickoff.

Understanding line movement in sports betting can help you recognize why a price has changed instead of automatically assuming that shorter or longer odds represent a better opportunity.

What Should You Consider When Betting on Goalscorers?

Picking the player with the most goals isn't always the best way to approach goalscorer betting. The goal is to determine whether a player's chances of scoring are better than the probability implied by the available odds.

Expected Playing Time and Starting Lineups

Start with the simplest question: Is the player likely to start?

A starting striker who regularly plays 80 to 90 minutes has considerably more time to score than a player expected to enter as a second-half substitute.

Confirmed lineups are typically announced shortly before kickoff, which makes them valuable information for goalscorer bettors.

Fewer minutes generally mean fewer opportunities, and the odds need to account for that reduced playing time.

Position and Role

Position matters, but a player's actual attacking role can be more important than the position listed next to their name.

Center forwards and other advanced attackers generally receive the most attention in goalscorer markets, but attacking midfielders and wingers can also have significant scoring responsibilities.

Look at where a player operates, how often they get into the penalty area, and how involved they are in their team's best scoring opportunities.

Two players both classified as midfielders may have dramatically different scoring potential if one frequently makes runs into the box while the other stays deeper and concentrates on possession and defensive responsibilities.

Penalty Kick Duties

Penalty responsibilities can substantially increase a player's scoring potential.

A team's primary penalty taker has access to scoring opportunities that teammates don't. That can be particularly valuable when betting on players from teams that frequently possess the ball in dangerous areas.

However, don't automatically assume that the team's usual penalty taker will take every penalty. Responsibilities can change because of injuries, substitutions, tactical decisions, or a manager's preferences.

Set Pieces

Set pieces can create additional scoring opportunities even for players who don't generate many chances in open play.

Tall center backs, for example, may be legitimate goalscorer candidates if they regularly attack corners and free kicks. Their overall scoring totals may be modest, but certain matchups can increase their appeal.

Consider both the attacking player's aerial ability and the opponent's effectiveness at defending set pieces.

Recent Form and Underlying Performance

Recent scoring form can be useful, but it needs context.

A player who has scored five goals in five matches is obviously producing. However, that doesn't necessarily mean they are more likely to score in the next match than the sportsbook's price suggests.

Look beyond the final results. Is the player consistently getting good chances? Are they taking plenty of shots? Are those attempts coming from dangerous areas?

Expected goals (xG) and other chance-quality metrics can provide additional context. A player who hasn't scored recently but continues to generate high-quality opportunities may be more interesting than someone whose recent scoring streak has come from a small number of difficult chances.

Form matters, but blindly chasing recent goals is one of the common betting mistakes made by beginners.

The Opposing Defense

A goalscorer bet isn't only about the player you are backing. It is also about who they are facing.

Consider how strong the opposing defense is, how many opportunities it allows, and whether there are particular weaknesses your selected player can exploit.

Injuries and suspensions can be especially significant. A defense missing its best center back or starting goalkeeper may present a very different challenge from the unit reflected in season-long statistics.

Playing style matters as well. A team that pushes its defensive line high may be vulnerable to fast attackers running in behind, while a team defending deep could limit those opportunities but potentially concede more shots from other areas.

The Matchup and Expected Match Script

Think about how the game itself is likely to unfold.

A heavily favored team expected to control possession and spend significant time around the opposing penalty area should create more scoring opportunities than an underdog likely to defend for long stretches.

The soccer betting guide can provide useful context for evaluating moneylines, goal lines, totals, and other markets alongside player props.

If you expect a high-scoring match, there may be several appealing anytime goalscorer candidates. If you anticipate a tight match with few opportunities, first goalscorer bets become more difficult, and the "no goalscorer" option may warrant consideration if available at an appropriate price.

How to Find Value in Goalscorer Betting

Correctly predicting who will score doesn't necessarily mean you made a good bet because price matters.

Suppose you estimate that a player has approximately a 40% chance to score. That translates to fair odds of roughly +150. If a sportsbook offers +180, your estimate suggests potential value. If the price is only +110, you may decide that the potential payout doesn't justify the risk.

Your estimates will never be perfect, but thinking in probabilities can prevent you from choosing players solely because you expect them to score.

Comparing prices can also matter because player-prop odds may vary from one sportsbook to another. A player available at +150 at one book and +175 at another represents the same underlying outcome but a meaningfully different potential return.

Our guide to line shopping explains why consistently comparing available odds can make a difference over a large sample of bets.

First Goalscorer Betting Strategies

First goalscorer betting requires a slightly different approach because timing matters.

Start by considering which team is most likely to score first and then how that team's goals are distributed. Does one striker account for a large share of its scoring? Are goals spread among several attackers? Does the primary penalty taker have an additional route to the opener?

Also consider how each team typically starts matches. Some attack aggressively from kickoff, while others take time to establish control.

However, avoid putting too much weight on small samples such as a player scoring first in several recent matches. First-goal timing contains substantial variance, and past sequencing doesn't guarantee future sequencing.

Longer first goalscorer odds can be appealing, but those potential payouts reflect how difficult the market is to predict.

Anytime Goalscorer Betting Strategies

Anytime goalscorer betting gives you more flexibility because the exact timing of the goal doesn't matter.

Focus on opportunity. Players who regularly receive quality chances, play significant minutes, and account for a large share of their team's attacking production have multiple paths to scoring.

The expected scoring environment also matters. A high projected match total can create more opportunities, though those expectations will generally be reflected in goalscorer prices.

You can also compare the market with other soccer wagers. For example, expecting both teams to create numerous quality chances may support an anytime scorer selection alongside your analysis of both teams to score betting.

Just don't treat correlated opinions as independent evidence. If several wagers depend on the same match script, one incorrect assumption can affect them all.

Comparing First and Anytime Goalscorer Betting Strategies

Many of the same factors matter when evaluating first and anytime goalscorer bets, but the two markets require a slightly different emphasis. First goalscorer analysis puts more importance on who is likely to strike early, while anytime goalscorer betting gives you the entire applicable period for your selection to score.

Here is a quick comparison of how you can approach the two markets:

The key difference is timing. First goalscorer bets require you to consider who is most likely to capitalize on the earliest scoring opportunities, while anytime goalscorer bets allow you to focus more broadly on a player's chances across the entire match.

In either market, the available odds should ultimately determine whether the potential opportunity is worth betting.

Rules for First & Anytime Goalscorer Bets

What Happens If Your Goalscorer Doesn't Start?

This is one area where checking sportsbook rules is essential.

Settlement policies can differ when a selected player doesn't start the match.

Depending on the sportsbook and market, a wager may remain active if the player enters as a substitute, while other circumstances may result in the bet being voided. Some books may also distinguish between first goalscorer and anytime goalscorer markets.

Because these rules directly affect your wager, don't assume every sportsbook handles non-starters the same way.

If starting status is uncertain, waiting for confirmed lineups can remove that uncertainty, though the available odds may move once the lineup becomes public.

Do Own Goals Count for Goalscorer Bets?

Typically, an own goal does not count toward a player's goalscorer wager.

If a defender accidentally puts the ball into their own net, the goal is credited as an own goal rather than to an attacking player for goalscorer settlement.

An own goal can also affect first goalscorer markets. Sportsbooks may have specific rules governing how the market is settled when the opening goal is an own goal.

Again, consult the sportsbook's soccer betting rules rather than assuming that every operator uses identical settlement procedures.

Does Extra Time Count for Goalscorer Bets?

Standard soccer bets are generally settled on regulation time plus stoppage time unless the market specifically states otherwise.

That means goals scored during two 15-minute periods of extra time in knockout competitions typically don't count toward standard goalscorer bets unless the sportsbook explicitly includes extra time.

Penalty shootouts are also generally excluded.

This distinction is particularly important when betting on tournament matches that can continue beyond 90 minutes. Always check whether the market applies to regulation only or includes extra time.

Can You Bet on Multiple Goalscorers?

Yes. Sportsbooks may allow you to bet on multiple players separately or combine goalscorer selections with other outcomes through parlays or same-game parlays.

For example, you might find markets involving a player to score and their team to win, or potentially combine an anytime goalscorer with another eligible selection.

However, adding selections increases the number of conditions that need to occur for the wager to win.

Our same-game parlay guide explains how these bets work and why correlations between selections can affect pricing and availability.

Don't add legs simply to create a larger payout. Every component of the wager should have a reason for being there.

Managing Your Bankroll When Betting on Goalscorers

Goalscorer markets—especially first goalscorer bets—can produce losing streaks even when your overall analysis is reasonable.

That makes disciplined staking important.

The attractive plus-money prices attached to many goalscorer selections shouldn't tempt you into risking significantly more than you normally would. Longer odds generally correspond with a lower probability of winning.

Set a betting budget, determine appropriate stake sizes, and avoid increasing your bets simply because several previous selections didn't score.

Our bankroll management guide covers staking and protecting your bankroll in greater detail.

Are First and Anytime Goalscorer Bets Worth It?

First and anytime goalscorer bets can be worthwhile when you believe the available odds underestimate a player's probability of scoring, but neither market provides an automatic edge.

Anytime goalscorer betting provides more opportunities for your selection to cash, while first goalscorer bets generally offer longer potential payouts in exchange for requiring your player to score before anyone else.

The most important consideration is price. A star striker may be the player most likely to score, but that doesn't necessarily make them the best bet if their odds are too short.

Approach goalscorer markets as you would other sports bets: assess the probability of the outcome, compare it with the available price, and determine whether the potential return justifies the risk.

First and Anytime Goalscorer Betting FAQ