How does Football scoring work?

Football players earn and lose points from real match events. Some actions carry the same points across all positions, some have different weighting depending on where the player plays.

The Sport.fun scoring model rewards the full range of contributions players make on the pitch - from goals and assists to tackles, interceptions, key passes and goalkeeper actions.

Decisive actions carry the greatest rewards, while routine actions contribute more modestly - this helps scores reflect both the statistics and what fans see on the pitch.

Scoring is the same across the free to play and Pro versions of Football.

How scoring works

Scores are calculated using official match data supplied by Opta, which records and classifies each action.
Points vary by position. The matrix below shows the total points awarded for each action, not additional position bonuses.
Some actions stack (score in more than one category). For example, a midfielder completing an accurate pass in the final third also scores for an accurate pass in the opposition half, earning 0.75 points in total: 0.50 + 0.25.
In cup matches, scoring continues until the end of extra time. Actions during a penalty shoot-out do not count.

Live scores may change if Opta updates or corrects the underlying match data. Scores are finalised at midnight UTC following the final match of the tournament.

Scoring matrix

Category	Action	GK	DEF	MID	FWD
Appearance	Started match or subbed on	10	10	10	10
Goals	Goal scored	60	60	60	60
Shooting	Shot on target	10	10	10	10
Shooting	Shot blocked by opponent	3	3	3	3
Shooting	Shot off target	0	-0.5	-1.5	-2.5
Shooting	Big chance missed	-5	-5	-8	-10
Shooting	Penalty missed	-10	-10	-10	-10
Assists	Assist	30	30	30	30
Assists	Assist - penalty won (scored)	30	30	30	30
Passing	Big chance created	10	10	10	10
Passing	Key pass	2	2	2	2
Passing	Accurate pass in final third	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
Passing	Accurate pass in opposition half	1	0.50	0.50	0.50
Passing	Accurate pass in own half	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
Attacking	Successful dribble	3	3	3.5	4
Attacking	Miscontrol (loses the ball)	-3	-3	-2	-1
Attacking	Dispossessed (loses the ball to another player)	-5	-5	-3	-1
Attacking	Foul won	2	2	2	2
Attacking	Penalty won	10	10	10	10
Attacking	Offside	0	0	-3	-3
Clean sheet	Clean sheet (45+ mins)	40	30	10	0
Defending	Goal conceded (from second goal onwards)	-5	-5	-3	0
Defending	Blocked shots	5	5	5	5
Defending	Duel lost	-2.5	-2.5	-1.75	-1
Defending	Duel won	3	3	3	3
Defending	Successful tackle	4	4	3.5	3
Defending	Last player tackle	15	15	15	15
Defending	Ball recovery	1.5	2	2	2
Defending	Effective clearance	1	1	1	1
Defending	Effective headed clearance	1	1	1	1
Defending	Interception	4	4	4	4
Defending	Interception, in the box	5	5	5	5
Defending	Cross blocked	2	2	2	2
Defending	Clearance off the line	20	20	20	20
Saves	Penalty saved	30
Saves	Big chance saved	3
Saves	Save from shot, outside the box	4
Saves	Save from shot, inside the box	7
Goalkeeping	Successful sweeper keeper	4
Goalkeeping	Smother	4
Goalkeeping	Punch	4
Goalkeeping	High claim (catches cross)	4
Goalkeeping	Six second violation	-5
Goalkeeping	Cross not claimed	-5
Errors	Own goal	-20	-20	-20	-20
Errors	Penalty given away	-20	-20	-20	-20
Errors	Red card	-20	-20	-20	-20
Errors	Yellow card	-10	-10	-10	-10
Errors	Error leading to goal	-20	-20	-10	-10
Errors	Error leading to shot	-10	-10	-5	-5
Errors	Foul committed	-3	-3	-3	-3

Clean sheets: Players must play at least 45 minutes to qualify. The bonus is based only on goals conceded while the player is on the pitch, so they can still qualify if their team concedes before they come on or after they are substituted.

Match result bonuses

Players can also earn bonus points when their team wins or draws. The bonus reflects the strength of the competition, with larger rewards available in higher-ranked competitions and matches.

These points are awarded in addition to the player’s action score.

Competition	Win	Draw
Champions League knockouts, Premier League	30	15
La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Champions League league stage, Europa League knockouts	20	10
Ligue 1, Nations League	10	5

A win or draw bonus is halved if the player is on the pitch for fewer than 45 minutes.

Big match modifier

Some matches receive a Big Match Modifier, regardless of the competition. When both teams have an Opta Power Ranking of 88 or higher, the match is treated as a top-tier fixture because of the strength of the teams involved.

The usual playing-time rule is applied to the competition’s standard result points first. The Big Match Modifier - 10 points for a win or 5 points for a draw - is then added in full:

Fewer than 15 minutes played: no win or draw points
15–44 minutes played: half the standard competition result points, plus the full Big Match Modifier
45 minutes or more played: full standard result points, plus the Big Match Modifier

The total result award is capped at 30 points for a win or 15 points for a draw.

Tiebreakers and edge cases

Cancelled matches, sub-45-minute appearances, tie-breaks, and other special cases have their own rules - see Tiebreakers and Edge Cases for more information.

Where can I see my players' scores?

When viewing the Live page, you can click on any player's score to see the breakdown of how their points were awarded.

Updated on: 15/09/2026

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