What is the meaning of anytime goalscorer?
An anytime goalscorer bet is a wager on a specific player to score at least one goal during the regular 90 minutes plus stoppage time of a football match. Unlike first goalscorer bets, it doesn't matter when your chosen player finds the net – they could score in the first minute or deep into injury time, and you'll still collect your winnings.
Why is an anytime goalscorer important in betting?
- It keeps your bet alive for the entire match duration, maximising your chances of winning.
- Offers better value than backing heavily favoured teams in one-sided matches.
- Provides excitement and engagement throughout the full 90 minutes of play.
Ready to master the art of picking goalscorers? Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of this thrilling betting market!
Understanding anytime goalscorer betting
Right, let's get straight to the point. Anytime goalscorer betting is probably the most popular player-specific market in football betting, and for good reason. Instead of trying to predict which team will win when one side is priced at 1.10 and the other at 15.00, you can focus on individual players who might find the back of the net.
Think of it like this – even if Manchester City are playing a League Two side in the FA Cup, you're not going to get much joy backing City to win. But their star striker might still be available at decent odds to score anytime, giving you proper value for your money. You can learn our best strategies to bet on anytime goalscorers on the site.
How anytime goalscorer works
The beauty of anytime goalscorer betting lies in its simplicity. You pick a player, they score during the match, you win. Job done. Your chosen player could score in the third minute, the 67th minute, or even in the 94th minute of stoppage time – it doesn't matter when, as long as they get on the scoresheet.
Important anytime goalscorer rules
- Only goals scored in regular time (90 minutes) plus stoppage time count.
- Extra time and penalty shootout goals don't count towards the bet.
- Own goals don't count, they must score for their own team.
- If your player doesn't participate in the match, your bet is void and stake refunded.
Different types of goalscorer bets
While we're focusing on anytime goalscorer, it's worth understanding the full family of goalscorer markets. Think of them as different flavours of the same ice cream – they're all related but offer different experiences and odds.
First goalscorer
This is where you're backing a player to score the opening goal of the match. The odds are typically longer than anytime goalscorer because it's much harder to predict. Even Harry Kane might be 4.00 to score first, but only 1.80 to score anytime.
Here's the catch, though – if your player doesn't start the match and someone else has already scored before he comes on, your bet is void. It's like buying a ticket for a concert and finding out the headliner has already performed.
Last goalscorer
The flip side of first goalscorer – you're predicting who'll score the final goal of the match. This market is particularly tricky because of substitutions. Your star striker might be leading the line early on, but if his team goes 3-0 up, he might get hooked for a youngster with 20 minutes left.
Anytime goalscorer (the main event)
This is where most punters feel most comfortable. Your player has the full 90 minutes to score, and even if they're substituted, as long as they've had some game time, the bet stands whether they score or not.
Key terms in goalscorer betting
Brace goalscorer meaning
A brace is when a player scores exactly two goals in a single match. You might see markets for “Player X to score two or more goals” – that's your brace bet right there. The odds are naturally longer because scoring twice is harder than scoring once, but when Erling Haaland's in the mood, these bets can be absolute gold.
Hat-trick goalscorer
Three goals in a single match – every striker's dream and every defender's nightmare. Hat-trick bets typically start around 25.00 odds, even for the most prolific scorers. They don't happen often, but when they do, the payouts can be spectacular.
No anytime goalscorer rules
Sometimes you'll see “No Goalscorer” markets, particularly in the first goalscorer section. This is essentially betting on a 0-0 draw, but it often offers better value than backing the correct score, as own goals don't affect the settlement.
💡Expert tips: If you fancy a goalless draw, check the “No First Goalscorer” market instead of 0-0 correct score. The odds are usually similar, but you're protected against own goals potentially ruining your bet.
Special goalscorer markets
Combination bets
These are where things get interesting and risky! You might see markets like:
- Scorecast: Backing a first goalscorer plus the correct score. The odds are massive, but so is the difficulty.
- Wincast: First goalscorer plus which team wins. Slightly easier than scorecast but still challenging.
- Anytime Scorecast: Anytime goalscorer plus correct score. Better than first goalscorer versions, but still tough.
Method of scoring
Modern bookmakers love their variety, so you'll often find markets on how a goal will be scored:
- Header: Perfect for tall strikers or defenders good at set pieces.
- Free kick: Ideal for dead-ball specialists like James Ward-Prowse.
- Outside the box: Great for midfielders who love a long-range effort.
- Penalty: Obviously, only works if there's a spot kick awarded.
Remember the golden rule
With anytime goalscorer betting, the clock is your friend. Unlike first goalscorer bets that can be over in minutes, anytime scorer gives you the full match to celebrate. It's like having a lottery ticket that stays active for 90 minutes instead of being drawn immediately.
Popular strategies and approaches
The obvious choices
Strikers are the bread and butter of goalscorer betting. Players like Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe are usually short odds because they're the most likely to score. But short odds mean smaller profits, so you need to pick your spots carefully.
The value hunters
Smart punters often look beyond the obvious choices. That attacking midfielder who's scored in three of his last five games might be better value than the striker everyone's backing. Think players like Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United – he's not a striker, but he's always a threat.
The set-piece specialists
Free kicks and corners are goal-scoring opportunities that many punters overlook. A defender who's 20.00 to score anytime but takes all the free kicks and penalties? That's potential value right there.
What doesn't count in anytime goalscorer
Let's be crystal clear about what won't land your bet:
- Own goals: If your player accidentally scores for the opposition, it doesn't count.
- Extra time goals: Only the regulation 90 minutes plus stoppage time count.
- Penalty shootout goals: These are separate from regular match time.
- Goals in abandoned matches: If the match doesn't finish, bets are typically void.
Quiz: Test your knowledge about anytime goalscorer betting
Question 1: Your player scores in the 95th minute of a match that had four minutes of added time. Does your anytime goalscorer bet win?
Answer: Yes, stoppage time goals count towards anytime goalscorer bets.
Question 2: You've backed Cristiano Ronaldo to score anytime, but he accidentally deflects the ball into his own net. Does this count?
Answer: No, own goals don't count for anytime goalscorer bets.
Question 3: Your chosen player starts on the bench and comes on in the 80th minute but doesn't score. Is your bet void?
Answer: No, the bet stands as a loser because the player participated in the match.
Question 4: What's the difference between anytime goalscorer and first goalscorer betting?
Answer: Anytime goalscorer wins if your player scores at any point during the match, while first goalscorer only wins if they score the opening goal.
Question 5: A match goes to extra time, and your player scores in the 105th minute. Does your anytime goalscorer bet win?
Answer: No, anytime goalscorer bets only cover regular time (90 minutes plus stoppage time).
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