What Is a Last Goalscorer Bet? Meaning, Rules and Payouts

What is a last goalscorer bet? It is a wager on a named player to score the final goal of a match. Nothing that happens before that point matters: other players can score first, your player can score earlier, and the team can win, lose or draw. For example, if the goals come at 12, 34, 55 and 78 minutes, the player who scores at 78 minutes wins the bet. In other words, only the last goal counts.

Above all, the appeal is the wait: the bet stays live until the final whistle, unlike first goalscorer, which can lose in the opening minutes. On the other hand, the odds are long, because only one player in 22 can score the final goal. Firstly, this guide explains the meaning and the payout. Secondly, it covers the rules that decide the bet, including 0-0 draws, own goals and substitutes. Finally, it compares the market with first goalscorer and shows how it works in multiples.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• A last goalscorer bet wins if your player scores the final goal of the match.
• On a 0-0, the “No goalscorer” selection usually wins and standard picks lose.
• A substitute’s goals count in full, with no restriction on when the player comes on.
• Own goals do not count: if the final goal is an own goal, the previous scorer wins.
• If your player does not take part, the bet is void and your stake is refunded.

What Is a Last Goalscorer Bet?

A last goalscorer bet asks one question: who scores the last goal? In practice, the player can score at any point in the 90 minutes plus stoppage time, as long as no counted goal follows theirs. In short, the bet is about order, not volume. For instance, a striker who scores twice in a 3-1 win does not win the bet unless they also scored the final goal.

The counted period is 90 minutes plus stoppage time. By contrast, goals scored in extra time or in a penalty shootout do not count, so a player who scores the winner in the 110th minute of a cup match does not win. In short, one goal is enough, as long as it is the last one.

How Last Goalscorer Odds Work

The odds reflect how likely the player is to score the final goal: a star striker might be priced at 6.00, while a centre-back might be priced at 25.00. For example, the gap between those two prices is the gap between a player who scores most weeks and one who scores twice a season. In general, shorter odds mean a higher chance of winning and a smaller return, while longer odds mean the opposite.

Odds	Implied chance of scoring last
4.00	25.0%
5.00	20.0%
6.00	16.7%
8.00	12.5%
10.00	10.0%

To work out the implied chance, divide 1 by the odds. For instance, 1 divided by 6.00 gives about 0.167, which is 16.7%. As a result, odds of 6.00 mean the bookmaker thinks your player has about a one-in-six chance of scoring the final goal. On the other hand, remember that odds include the bookmaker’s margin, so the true chance sits slightly below the implied figure.

What Is a Last Goalscorer Bet Payout?

The payout is simple: stake multiplied by the odds. If you stake ₦500 at 6.00 and your player scores the final goal, your return is ₦3,000, including your stake, so your profit is ₦2,500. By contrast, if another player scores the final goal, you lose the ₦500.

Here is the same payout at a few common prices, all for a ₦500 stake:

Odds	Return	Profit
4.00	₦2,000	₦1,500
5.00	₦2,500	₦2,000
6.00	₦3,000	₦2,500
8.00	₦4,000	₦3,500
10.00	₦5,000	₦4,500

In other words, a winning bet at 6.00 returns six times your stake, while a losing bet returns nothing. That is why the implied chance matters: at 6.00, your player needs to score the final goal more often than once in six matches for you to come out ahead over many bets.

The Rules: Own Goals, Substitutes and Voids

The rules decide this market, so they deserve care. Firstly, a substitute’s goals count in full. Any player who takes the field for any part of the match counts as a runner, and the bet stands. For example, a forward who comes on in the 80th minute and scores the winner in the 90th minute wins the bet. Unlike first goalscorer, there is no rule about coming on after a goal has been scored: a late substitute can always win.

Secondly, own goals do not count. If the final goal is an own goal, the bookmaker settles the bet on the scorer of the previous non-own goal. If every goal in the match was an own goal, the bookmaker voids all last-goalscorer bets.

Thirdly, a player who plays and does not score the final goal loses the bet. In other words, there is no refund for a player who scored earlier but not last. Similarly, a player who starts and receives a red card still counts as having taken part. Finally, goals ruled out by VAR do not count: settlement follows the goal as the referee awards it.

What Happens on a 0-0?

On a 0-0 draw, the majority rule is that the “No goalscorer” selection wins and standard last-goalscorer picks lose. That is how most major bookmakers settle it: a goalless match has no last goalscorer. For example, if you backed a striker at 6.00 and the match ends 0-0, you lose the stake, with no refund.

That said, a minority of bookmakers void all last-goalscorer bets on a 0-0 and refund stakes. As a result, check your bookmaker’s football rules before you place the bet. In practice, though, the “No goalscorer wins” rule is the standard position, and it matches the first-goalscorer rule. Similarly, the same thinking applies when the only goals are own goals: if no player scores a counted goal, “No goalscorer” wins.

What Is a Last Goalscorer Bet Compared With First Goalscorer?

The closest market is first goalscorer. The difference is timing: first goalscorer needs the opening goal, while last goalscorer needs the closing goal. As a result, the odds for the same player are usually near-identical. For example, a striker might be 6.00 in both markets.

Market	What you need	Odds for the same striker	₦500 stake return
First goalscorer	The opening goal	6.00	₦3,000
Last goalscorer	The final goal	6.00	₦3,000

In other words, the two bets pay the same because they ask for the same kind of thing: one specific goal. The difference is the risk. For instance, a first-goalscorer bet can lose in the opening minutes, while a last-goalscorer bet stays live until the final whistle. On the other hand, a last-goalscorer bet can lose in the final minutes, when a different player scores the last goal. Finally, there is also a difference in the substitute rule: a first-goalscorer bet voids if your player comes on after the first goal has already been scored, while a last-goalscorer bet has no such restriction. For the full comparison, read our guide to what a first goalscorer bet is.

What Is a Last Goalscorer Bet in a Multiple?

A last-goalscorer pick works in a multiple just like any other selection: the odds multiply together. For example, a last goalscorer at 6.00 combined with a single bet on a team to win at 1.50 gives combined odds of 9.00. A ₦500 stake on that double returns ₦4,500 if both selections win, for a profit of ₦4,000.

That said, every leg must win. If your player scores last but the team does not win, the whole multiple loses. On the other hand, if your player does not take part, the bookmaker voids only that leg and reprices the multiple on the remaining legs. To understand the wider void rules, read our guide to what a void bet is. In practice, to place a multiple, add each selection to your betting slip.

How to Pick a Last Goalscorer

Picking a last goalscorer starts with the team sheet, just like any goalscorer bet. Firstly, a player who starts is a better pick than one who might sit on the bench, even at the same odds. For example, a striker who starts every match is a safer pick than a forward who shares minutes with two rivals. Next, look at late goals: some players score more often in the final 15 minutes, when defences tire. Similarly, a player on penalty duty has an extra route to a late goal.

Also consider the match shape. Similarly, a favourite chasing a late winner is more likely to produce a late goal than a team sitting on a lead. Above all, avoid picking on reputation alone, and avoid backing a player who carries an injury or a defender at short odds. Finally, remember that no pick is a sure thing: even the shortest-priced striker fails to score last in most matches.

What Is a Last Goalscorer Bet Under Nigerian Law?

Meanwhile, betting in Nigeria is for adults only — 18+ only. Regulation is state-led: the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 on 22 November 2024, and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission framework applies only in the Federal Capital Territory. As a result, a bettor should check that a bookmaker holds a licence in the bettor’s own state, rather than assuming a site is “licensed by the NLRC” as a general rule. In addition, licensed bookmakers ask for identity checks, usually a Bank Verification Number or National Identity Number, before paying out winnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a last goalscorer bet if the last goal is an own goal?

The bet settles on the scorer of the previous non-own goal, because an own goal never counts for any goalscorer market.

Does a last goalscorer bet include extra time?

No. Only goals in 90 minutes plus stoppage time count. A goal in extra time does not win the bet, and neither does a goal in a penalty shootout.

Can a substitute win a last goalscorer bet?

Yes: a substitute’s goals count in full, with no restriction on when the player comes on.

What happens if my player does not play?

The bookmaker voids the bet and refunds your stake. In a multiple, the bookmaker voids only that leg and reprices the bet on the remaining selections.

Can I cash out a last goalscorer bet?

That depends on your bookmaker: some offer cash out on goalscorer markets, while others do not. Each-way betting is also not offered on last goalscorer at some bookmakers.

Is last goalscorer better than anytime goalscorer?

Neither is better in general: anytime wins more often but pays less, while last goalscorer wins rarely but pays more.

The Bottom Line

What is a last goalscorer bet, in one line? A bet that your named player scores the final goal of the match in 90 minutes plus stoppage time. It stays live until the final whistle, and it pays like first goalscorer. In short, pick a player who starts, who scores late, and who takes penalties when they can. Above all, remember the 0-0 rule: no goals usually means “No goalscorer” wins, not a refund.

Bet Responsibly: Betting is for adults aged 18+ only. Treat it as entertainment, not as a way to make money, and only stake what you can afford to lose. If betting stops being fun, stop. For help and guidance, visit our Responsible Gambling page.