First Goalscorer vs Anytime Goalscorer: Odds, Risk and Void Rules

First Goalscorer and Anytime Goalscorer both involve predicting a player to score, but the conditions are very different.

First Goalscorer requires the selected player to score the first eligible goal of the match. Anytime Goalscorer only requires the player to score at least once during the applicable settlement period.

That makes First Goalscorer the narrower and normally higher-priced market. Anytime Goalscorer provides more ways for the selection to win, so the odds are generally shorter.

The distinction becomes obvious in a match where your selected striker scores in the 65th minute after a teammate scored in the 20th:

• First Goalscorer: loses.
• Anytime Goalscorer: wins.

The other major difference is settlement. Whether a non-starting player is void, whether a substitute remains active, and whether extra-time goals count can vary significantly between bookmakers. Current rules from bet365, Betfair and Smarkets demonstrate that these conditions are not universal.

For that reason, goalscorer analysis should answer two questions separately:

1. Which market better reflects your prediction?
2. What exactly happens to the bet under that bookmaker’s rules?

First Goalscorer vs Anytime Goalscorer: Quick Comparison

The easiest way to remember the difference is:

First Goalscorer predicts the order of scoring. Anytime Goalscorer predicts whether the player scores at all.

What Is a First Goalscorer Bet?

A First Goalscorer bet is a prediction that a specific player will score the first qualifying goal of the match.

Suppose Nigeria play Team B and you select Player A as First Goalscorer.

If the goals arrive:

Player A – 22nd minute
Player B – 54th minute
Player A – 79th minute

your First Goalscorer selection wins because Player A scored the first eligible goal.

Now reverse the order:

Player B – 22nd minute
Player A – 54th minute

Player A still scored, but the First Goalscorer bet loses because another eligible player scored before him.

This makes First Goalscorer substantially more restrictive than the corresponding anytime goalscorer market.

What Is an Anytime Goalscorer Bet?

Anytime Goalscorer asks whether your chosen player scores at least one qualifying goal during the relevant settlement period.

The player’s position in the scoring order usually does not matter.

If your selected player scores:

• first;
• second;
• third;
• or later,

the Anytime Goalscorer condition is satisfied, assuming the goal and player participation meet the operator’s rules.

Smarkets currently settles its Anytime Goalscorer market on players scoring during regular time plus stoppage time and voids selections on players who take no part. Own goals do not count.

For match-specific analysis, NaijaScore9’s anytime goalscorer predictions should therefore focus on the player’s overall probability of scoring rather than his probability of producing the first goal.

The Biggest Difference: What Happens After the First Goal?

This is where the two markets separate immediately.

Assume you selected a striker in both markets.

Another Player Scores First

If someone else scores the first qualifying goal:

First Goalscorer: your player can no longer win that market.

Anytime Goalscorer: your player can still score later and win.

Your Player Scores First

Both selections win.

Your Player Scores Second

First Goalscorer loses.

Anytime Goalscorer wins.

Your Player Does Not Score

Both lose if the selections remain active under the bookmaker’s participation rules.

That narrower winning condition is the main reason First Goalscorer normally offers the larger price.

Why First Goalscorer Odds Are Usually Higher?

Odds reflect the probability represented by the market.

Suppose your analysis estimates that a striker has:

• 40% probability of scoring at any point;
• 18% probability of scoring the first goal.

The corresponding estimated fair odds would be approximately:

Anytime Goalscorer

1 ÷ 0.40 = 2.50

First Goalscorer

1 ÷ 0.18 = 5.56

First Goalscorer requires a less likely, more specific event, so its fair price is much larger.

This does not mean First Goalscorer offers better value.

Higher odds and better value are separate concepts. The available price still needs to be compared with your probability estimate.

Use the NaijaScore9 implied probability calculator to convert the offered goalscorer odds into their raw break-even percentages.

First Goalscorer Carries More Timing Risk

Anytime Goalscorer mainly asks:

Will this player score?

First Goalscorer adds another condition:

Will this player score before every other eligible scorer?

That introduces additional uncertainty.

Your striker could:

• score after a teammate;
• score after an opponent;
• score twice after the opening goal;

and still lose the First Goalscorer selection.

With Anytime Goalscorer, any qualifying goal from that player can be sufficient.

This is why a player can be an attractive Anytime Goalscorer candidate without being equally attractive as First Goalscorer.

Player Minutes Matter Differently in the Two Markets

Playing time is important for both markets, but it is especially important for First Goalscorer.

Consider a striker expected to start and play around 80 minutes. He is likely to be present during the opening stages when the first goal is most likely to occur.

Now consider a substitute expected to enter around minute 70.

That substitute may still have a chance of scoring at any time after entering. But if the match already has a goal before he comes on, the First Goalscorer opportunity has disappeared.

This is why the NaijaScore9 guide on how player minutes affect goalscorer predictions should be used differently for these markets.

For Anytime Goalscorer, expected total minutes are central.

For First Goalscorer, you also need to consider whether the player is likely to be on the pitch before the first eligible goal occurs.

Starting Players Usually Have a Clearer First-Scorer Opportunity

A starting striker has access to the entire opening period of the match.

A substitute does not.

Suppose the probability of the first goal occurring before minute 60 is high. A player expected to enter around minute 65 has little or no practical First Goalscorer opportunity in many match scenarios.

The same substitute might still be useful in an Anytime Goalscorer analysis if:

• his team is expected to create late chances;
• he usually receives meaningful substitute minutes;
• his sportsbook keeps the selection active after he enters.

This distinction should prevent users from applying the same player ranking to both markets.

Void Rules Are Not the Same Across Bookmakers

There is no single universal rule stating:

“If a goalscorer does not start, the bet is always void.”

Current bookmaker rules show meaningful differences.

Bet365

As of August 2026, bet365 states that pre-match First/Last Player to Score bets on players who do not start are void, apart from specified rolling-substitution competitions. Its Player to Score at Any Time market also states that a selected player who does not start is void under the standard rule.

So under those rules, a player beginning on the bench does not simply become an active Anytime Goalscorer selection after entering.

Betfair Sportsbook

Betfair currently applies a different approach. A player can become a runner for Anytime Goalscorer by entering the match at any point during 90 minutes plus stoppage time. If the player never participates, the selection is void.

For First Goalscorer, Betfair states that a player who enters after the first goal has been scored is void for First Goalscorer purposes.

Smarkets

Smarkets currently voids First Goalscorer selections when the player takes no part or enters as a substitute after the first goal has already been scored. Its Anytime Goalscorer selection is void only when the player takes no part in the match.

The practical lesson is important:

Never assume the participation rule from one betting site applies to another.

Before comparing prices across betting sites in Nigeria, check the current player-market rules attached to the actual bookmaker you intend to use.

First Goalscorer Void Rules: Common Scenarios

The exact settlement depends on the sportsbook, but the following situations deserve attention.

Player Does Not Play at All

A non-participating player is commonly treated as a non-runner or void selection in match-specific goalscorer markets. Betfair and Smarkets currently apply this approach, while bet365’s pre-match goalscorer rules void non-starting players earlier under its standard participation condition.

Player Starts and Someone Else Scores First

The First Goalscorer selection loses.

The player had the opportunity to fulfil the market condition but did not score the first eligible goal.

His Anytime Goalscorer selection can remain active.

Player Comes On Before the First Goal

This is where bookmaker rules become particularly important.

Under Smarkets’ published First Goalscorer rules, the selection can remain live if the substitute enters before the first goal.

Under bet365’s current standard pre-match rule, a player who did not start is already void for First Goalscorer.

Two bookmakers can therefore display similar market names while producing different settlement outcomes.

Player Comes On After the First Goal

The player can no longer become the first scorer.

Betfair and Smarkets explicitly void such First Goalscorer selections when their respective participation conditions apply.

Anytime Goalscorer may still remain possible at sportsbooks that treat substitute participation as action.

Anytime Goalscorer Void Rules: Common Scenarios

Anytime Goalscorer generally has simpler scoring conditions, but participation rules still vary.

Player Starts

The selection is active.

If the player scores a qualifying goal, it wins.

Player Starts but Is Substituted Without Scoring

The selection loses.

The fact that the player did not complete 90 minutes does not normally create a refund merely because he was substituted.

Player Begins on the Bench

Do not assume the outcome.

Current examples illustrate the difference:

• bet365: standard pre-match selection void if the player does not start;
• Betfair: selection can stand if the player comes on;
• Smarkets: selection stands if the player participates and is void if he takes no part.

This is why confirmed line-ups and bookmaker rules should both be checked before comparing player prices.

What Happens if the First Goal Is an Own Goal?

Own goals are commonly excluded from player goalscorer settlement.

Smarkets states that own goals do not count for First Goalscorer and that, when the first match goal is an own goal, the next eligible goal is used for settlement.

Betfair similarly states that own goals are ignored for its First/Last Goalscorer markets.

bet365 also states that own goals do not count in its player goalscorer settlement.

For example:

15′ – Defender scores an own goal
37′ – Striker A scores
62′ – Striker B scores

Under rules that ignore own goals, Striker A is treated as the first eligible goalscorer.

This detail matters because the first goal shown on the scoreboard is not always the first goal used for the goalscorer market.

What Happens if the Match Finishes 0–0?

If your selected player participates but does not score because the match ends goalless, an ordinary player goalscorer selection has not satisfied its scoring condition.

A void normally relates to participation or another specific rule—not simply to the match containing no eligible goal.

Some sportsbooks may offer a separate No Goalscorer option within First Goalscorer markets, so users should check the market structure before placing the selection.

Do not interpret a 0–0 result as an automatic refund for a player who participated.

Does Extra Time Count?

This is another area where sportsbook rules differ.

Betfair states that its ordinary First/Last Goalscorer and Anytime Scorer rules apply to 90 minutes plus injury time, excluding extra time.

Smarkets similarly settles standard football markets, including First and Anytime Goalscorer, using regular time plus stoppage time unless otherwise specified.

bet365’s current Player Match Markets rules are different: it lists both First Goalscorer and To Score at Any Time among player markets that include extra time if played.

This difference is especially important during:

• AFCON knockout matches;
• Champions League knockout fixtures;
• domestic cup matches;
• other elimination competitions.

A player scoring in the 105th minute could therefore produce different settlements across sportsbooks.

If comparing goalscorer prices, do not compare the decimal odds until you have confirmed whether both selections cover the same playing period.

The NaijaScore9 guide on comparing the same betting market across bookmakers explains why market period and settlement conditions must match before two prices are genuinely comparable.

Which Market Has More Risk?

If “risk” means having fewer ways for the selection to win, First Goalscorer is the more restrictive market.

The player must:

1. participate under the bookmaker’s rules;
2. score;
3. score before every other eligible player.

Anytime Goalscorer generally requires only:

1. eligible participation;
2. at least one qualifying goal.

The narrower condition usually produces higher First Goalscorer odds.

But higher risk does not automatically mean worse value. A sufficiently high price can compensate for a lower probability.

The correct comparison is between:

• your estimated probability;
• the bookmaker’s odds;
• the settlement conditions.

Example: Comparing First and Anytime Odds

Suppose Player A is offered at:

• First Goalscorer: 6.50
• Anytime Goalscorer: 2.40

Raw implied probabilities are approximately:

First Goalscorer

1 ÷ 6.50 = 15.38%

Anytime Goalscorer

1 ÷ 2.40 = 41.67%

Now suppose your own estimates are:

• first scorer probability: 17%;
• anytime scoring probability: 38%.

Your estimated fair odds are:

First Goalscorer

1 ÷ 0.17 = 5.88

Anytime Goalscorer

1 ÷ 0.38 = 2.63

Under these illustrative assumptions:

• 6.50 First Goalscorer may offer a favourable price;
• 2.40 Anytime Goalscorer is below your estimated fair price.

The Anytime selection is more likely to win, but that does not automatically make it the better-priced option.

That is why the NaijaScore9 first goalscorer predictions should not simply select the player with the highest general scoring probability.

What Matters Most for First Goalscorer Predictions?

A useful First Goalscorer analysis should emphasise:

• starting probability;
• likelihood of being on the pitch from kick-off;
• team’s probability of scoring first;
• player’s share of team goals;
• expected early attacking role;
• penalties and set pieces;
• opponent’s early defensive strength;
• expected first-goal timing.

For example, a striker may be his team’s best overall scorer but still have a weaker First Goalscorer profile if another forward regularly dominates early shot volume or takes penalties.

The question is not simply:

“Who is most likely to score?”

It is:

“Who is most likely to score the first eligible goal before anyone else?”

What Matters Most for Anytime Goalscorer Predictions?

Anytime Goalscorer analysis can place more emphasis on total opportunity:

• expected minutes;
• goals and expected goals per 90;
• penalty responsibility;
• shots inside the box;
• team goal expectation;
• opponent defensive strength;
• likely game state.

A striker expected to remain on the pitch for 85–90 minutes has more opportunities to recover from a quiet first half than one routinely substituted around minute 60.

This is why expected minutes should be included before turning historical goals-per-90 numbers into match-specific probabilities.

When First Goalscorer Fits the Prediction Better?

First Goalscorer is more closely aligned with an analysis such as:

“This player is the main early attacking threat, his team is likely to score first and his probability of producing that opening goal is higher than the available price suggests.”

It may be more relevant when the player:

• starts consistently;
• plays centrally;
• takes penalties;
• receives a high share of early chances;
• belongs to a strong favourite.

But none of those conditions automatically creates value.

The price still matters.

When Does Anytime Goalscorer Fits Better?

Anytime Goalscorer is more appropriate when the prediction is simply:

“This player’s overall probability of scoring during the covered match period is strong enough relative to the odds.”

This is often easier to analyse because you do not need to predict the exact position of the player’s goal in the scoring sequence.

A player can miss an early chance, have a teammate score first and still win an Anytime Goalscorer selection later.

That extra flexibility is reflected in the shorter price.

The Most Common Goalscorer Betting Mistakes

Assuming First Goalscorer Means First Scorer for the Player’s Team

It normally means the first eligible scorer of the entire match.

Team First Goalscorer is a separate market.

Choosing First Goalscorer Only Because the Odds Are Higher

The larger number reflects a less probable event. Higher odds do not automatically mean better value.

Assuming Every Non-Starter Is Voided Everywhere

Current bookmaker rules show that this is false. Participation conditions differ materially between operators.

Ignoring Expected Minutes

A player expecting 55 minutes should not automatically receive the same scoring estimate as a comparable forward expecting 88 minutes.

Ignoring Own-Goal Rules

The first scoreboard goal can be ignored for player goalscorer settlement when it is an own goal.

Assuming Extra Time Always Counts

It does not. Current rules differ between major sportsbooks.

Comparing Prices Without Comparing Rules

A larger Anytime Goalscorer price may come with different participation or extra-time conditions.

Compare both the odds and the contract being priced.

Conclusion

First Goalscorer and Anytime Goalscorer may feature the same player, but they are asking different questions.

First Goalscorer asks whether the player will score before every other eligible scorer. Anytime Goalscorer asks whether the player will score at least once during the covered period.

That makes Anytime Goalscorer more forgiving. If a teammate scores first and your striker scores later, the Anytime selection can still win. The First Goalscorer bet cannot.

The trade-off is reflected in the odds: First Goalscorer normally offers a larger potential return because the required event is less likely.

For analysis, do not simply choose between the two based on price. Estimate the player’s overall scoring probability, his probability of scoring first, his expected minutes, penalty role and the team’s likelihood of scoring the opening goal.

Then check the bookmaker rules.

That final step is essential because non-starters, substitutes and extra time are not treated identically across sportsbooks. Current rules from major operators show materially different settlement conditions.