What is Last Goal Scorer? Last Goal Scorer Explained in 2 minutes
Jesse M. Cox Last Verified
27/04/2026
The last goal scorer is the player who scores the last goal of the game in a 90-minute football match, although last goal scorer bets are possible in other team sports such as hockey and handball.
If you're looking for any soccer or hockey game to bet on, you can find it on our odds comparison page. There you'll find live odds for any match and be able to compare the odds across multiple sports books all in one place.
Ironically, when the final score in a game is 1-0, the player who scored the first goal in the game is also the player who scored the last goal in the game.
However, it is important to note that in soccer last goal scorer betting, often if a game goes to extra time, then the bet is only paid out on the opening 90 minutes and not the extra time period. It is always best to check the bookmaker terms before betting on a game that could go to extra time.
How is Last Goal Scorer used in Sports Betting?
An example of placing a last goal scorer bet would be to select a Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea and pick a player you feel has the best chance of finding the back of the net in the game and opt for them as your last goal scorer.
Last goal scorer odds are longer than anytime goal scorer bets as it is harder to predict as certain parameters need to be considered before placing a last goal scorer bet. One way to help you make the correct pick is to learn more about soccer betting through our soccer betting strategy guide. Here you'll learn all sorts of important tips.
These tips include whether or not the player is likely to play the full 90 minutes, as if they’re substituted part-way through the match, they’re less likely to score the game’s last goal, or if the team in question is likely to bring on an attacking substitute later in the game.
Of course, a last goal scorer bet could be won with a strike in the first minute but understanding the fitness and capabilities of the player you are backing can go a long way to increasing your chances of backing a winner.
Real life examples of Last Goal Scorer
The last goal scorer can be one of the more exciting ways to bet on a particular match because, in many cases, these goals determine the match outcome and pair well with match odds bets. The best way to understand how this works is to walk through how it plays out in practice. Here are some examples of notable last goal scorers.
Lucas Moura, while playing for Tottenham Hotspur, scored after the 90th minute in stoppage time to complete a second-half hat-trick, sending Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League Final. Similarly, Sergio Agüero scored the iconic "93:20" goal for Manchester City against QPR to win the 2012 Premier League title. Late goals do happen and can count if you picked these players as the last goal scorer, though it is important to check if your sportsbook includes "extra time" or if the bet is limited to "90 minutes plus stoppage time."
An example of an unlikely pick would be when Alisson Becker, as a goalkeeper for Liverpool, scored a dramatic 95th minute winner against West Bromwich Albion in May 2021 to secure Champions League qualification. This would have been a massive upset for bettors who placed wagers on top scorers with shorter odds, showing that anything can happen and nothing is a guarantee when betting.
Is Last Goal Scorer Available at Popular US Sportsbooks?
With soccer becoming increasingly more popular across the US, most major licensed sportsbooks support last goal scorer bets on most major leagues. Each top sportsbook you will find will cover markets on the major leagues, however not every sportsbook supports more niche leagues and global competitions. Here are the top sportsbooks in the US that bettors can make last goal scorer wagers on.
| Sportsbook | Market Availability | Details | Includes Extra Time? |
| DraftKings | All major leagues covered | Covers last goal scorer markets across top European leagues and international competitions. Player markets are available pre-match and odds are competitive on marquee fixtures. | No (90 Mins + Stoppage only) |
| FanDuel | All pro leagues covered | Offers last goal scorer alongside other player props for featured football matches. Coverage is strongest during the Premier League season and major knockout competitions. | No (90 Mins + Stoppage only) |
| Bet365 | Majority of global competitions covered | Has one of the Largest soccer coverage of any US-licensed operator and regularly offers last goal scorer markets across a wide range of leagues, not just the top tier. | No (90 Mins + Stoppage only) |
| BetMGM | All major leagues covered | Covers last goal scorer for high-profile fixtures and tends to offer boosted odds on player markets during major matchdays. | No (90 Mins + Stoppage only) |
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Is Last Goal Scorer Available Available for Live Betting
Yes, though it varies by each operator and how the match is unfolding. Most major sportsbooks will suspend last goal scorer after a goal is scored and then reopen them with updated odds based on the score and time remaining. Live last goal scorer betting can be particularly interesting late in a match, especially when a team is behind and more likely to commit more attacking players forward. A striker who comes on as a substitute in the later minutes to chase a victory may be available at longer odds.
One thing to watch in live betting is whether the bookmaker settles on 90 minutes plus stoppage time only. This rule applies in-play just as it does pre-match, any goal scored in extra time or a penalty shootout will typically not count toward the wager at most sportsbooks.
Best Strategies for Last Goal Scorer Bets
While there are no guarantees when it comes to sports betting, there are some strategies you can take into account to give yourself a better chance of picking the last goal scorer. Here are our top strategies to help bettors make the most informed choice when picking the last goal scorer.
Target players who are likely to play the full 90 minutes
This will make sense for a majority of bettors out there, but picking a player that plays the full 90 minutes of the match is going to give them more of a chance to score the last goal. Though they might be more exhausted by the end of the match compared to a striker that comes in late, the more play time a player has does increase your chances of backing a last goal scorer.
Look for teams likely to score late
Some teams consistently score in the final 20 minutes due to fitness or a habit of coming from behind. Backing a player from a team with a consistent late-game scoring history improves the chance of your selection scoring last. This pairs well with other betting markets including the last team to score, which can give you a chance to double dip on your wagers.
Consider team selection
Understanding the team dynamics on the wagers that you are placing can affect your chances of picking the last goal scorer. Selecting players from teams expected to win or play in high-scoring games can increase your chances of selecting the last goal scorer. Another consideration is that if a team has a strong defensive record and a game is likely to finish 1-0, the first goalscorer is often also the last, so selecting the top scorers from those teams can give you a better chance.
Similar Bets to Last Goal Scorer
Last goal scorer is one of many player and team betting options built around scoring. The options below follow the same methodology and can often be combined when building your wager.
First Goalscorer
This is basically the opposite of the last goal scorer, where bettors can wager on the player to score the opening goal. Bettors will find that this will come with similar or high-value odds depending on the selection. These can be combined to increase your chances on particular players and, in the case of a 1-0 result, the first and last scorer are the same.
Anytime Goalscorer
This is a lower-odds option bet that collects if the player scores at any point. It is the most forgiving of the goalscorer options as there is no requirement on timing; however, because of this, the payout is smaller than other wagers in this category. This is a great choice when you are confident in a player scoring but do not want to commit to when.
Team Last Goalscorer
Rather than picking the last goalscorer across the whole match, this wagers on which player scores the final goal for your selected team. It narrows the field you are selecting from, which increases your chances compared to the outright last goalscorer while still offering competitive odds.
Goalscorer Match Bets
A head-to-head between two players on which one scores more goals in the match. It removes the need to predict exact timing and instead focuses on which of the two players has the bigger impact in front of goal.
Wincast / Scorecast
A combined wager that links a goalscorer selection with a match result or correct score. A wincast requires your player to score and your chosen team to win. A scorecast adds the correct score on top of that. Both carry significantly longer odds due to the added difficulty, but they offer a way to build on a goalscorer wager.
Did you know…
In April 2011, Liverpool player Dirk Kuyt struck a 102nd-minute equaliser against Arsenal with the last kick of the game to steal the Reds a point.
It remains the latest goal in a 90-minute Premier League game to date and no doubt made a few last goal scorer punters very happy indeed.
Conclusion
That is the complete breakdown of how last goal scorer betting works and how to make the most of your last goal scorer wagers. The one key element that sets the last goal scorer apart is timing. Making sure your selection takes into consideration team dynamics, substitutions, and players that have high match time are all factors that need to be taken into account before making a wager.
The last goal scorer market is available at all major US sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365, and BetMGM, with the widest coverage available during Premier League and Champions League fixtures. If you want to participate you can follow the banners on this page to check out the featured sportsbooks for your last goal scorer needs.
