Anytime goalscorer is one of the most popular football betting markets, and it’s about as straightforward as footie betting gets. You’re simply backing a player to score at any point in the match, be that in the first minute or in the last minute, it literally means anytime.
Unlike first goalscorer bets where timing comes into play, anytime goalscorer removes that pressure. Whether your player scores the opener, grabs a late equaliser, or bags a hat-trick – the outcome is all the same.
How Does Anytime Goalscorer Work?
With an anytime goalscorer, all you are doing is predicting that a certain player will score within the 90 minutes, plus stoppage time. The number of goals that they score does not change the payout; one goal pays the same as three.
The bet settles as a winner the moment your player scores. If they don’t score at all, you lose. Extra time and penalty shootouts in cup competitions don’t count unless your bookmaker specifically states otherwise, so always check the terms.
Anytime Goalscorer Rules: What Counts?
This is where punters often get caught out, so it’s worth knowing exactly what does and doesn’t count towards your bet.
Goals that count:
- Open play goals
- Penalties (yes, they count)
- Direct free kicks
- Headers, tap-ins, deflections off your player
Goals that don’t count:
- Own goals scored by opposition players
- Goals credited to another player after a deflection
The own goal rule trips people up regularly. If your striker’s shot takes a wicked deflection off a defender and crosses the line, it’s officially an own goal – meaning your anytime goalscorer bet loses even though your player technically “caused” the goal.
What Happens If Your Player Doesn’t Start?
Here’s where bookmaker rules vary, so pay attention.
Most bookmakers operate a “must play” rule. If your selected player comes off the bench – even for a single minute – your bet stands. They need to score for you to win; if they don’t, you lose.
However, if your player doesn’t feature at all (not even as a substitute), most bookmakers will void the bet and return your stake. This is standard practice, but some bookmakers have different terms, so check before placing your bet.
A player getting sent off before scoring also doesn’t void the bet – you simply lose if they haven’t found the net before their red card.
When Does Anytime Goalscorer Offer Value?
This market works best when you’ve done your homework on player form, penalty duties, and fixture context.
Penalty takers are worth considering. A player on spot-kick duty has an extra route to goal beyond open play chances. Check who’s taking penalties before backing a midfielder or defender who might otherwise struggle to score.
Players in form sound obvious, but confidence matters. Strikers on a hot streak tend to keep scoring – they’re getting in the right positions and taking their chances. A forward who’s netted in three consecutive games is worth backing over one who’s misfired for a month.
Favourable fixtures matter too. If Manchester City are hosting a relegation battler, their forwards will likely get more chances than usual. More chances generally means more goals.
Set piece specialists offer sneaky value. Centre-backs who attack corners well are often priced generously because they’re defenders. But players like Virgil van Dijk regularly threaten from set pieces and can offer better odds than obvious striker picks.
Anytime Goalscorer vs First Goalscorer
The key difference comes down to odds and risk.
First goalscorer bets offer bigger odds because they’re harder to land – your player needs to score before anyone else. If they grab the second goal of the game, you lose despite them scoring.
Anytime goalscorer odds are shorter, but your player has the full match to find the net. It’s a more forgiving bet that keeps you interested throughout the game rather than being killed off by an early goal from someone else.
For most punters, anytime goalscorer strikes the better balance between decent odds and realistic chances of winning.
Building Anytime Goalscorer Into Bet Builders
This market works brilliantly within bet builders. Combining anytime goalscorer with results, over/under goals, or other player markets lets you boost odds while building a bet that makes logical sense.
For example, backing a home win, over 2.5 goals, and the home striker to score anytime creates a coherent bet where each selection supports the others. If the home side wins with three or more goals, their striker has likely scored.
Anytime goalscorer remains a go-to market for good reason – it’s easy to understand, keeps you engaged for the full 90 minutes, and offers genuine value if you pick your spots wisely.
